Wiers Farm is celebrating its 117th year of operation during 2013. “It’s always a pleasure to see members of our family’s fourth, fifth and sixth generations working side by side at the farm,” President Ben Wiers told The Produce News.

From its headquarters in Willard, OH, the company farms over 40 commodities in Ohio and Florida. The extensive commodity manifest includes cabbage, varieties of lettuce, leafy greens, cucumbers, parsley, peppers and squash.

Sometimes father knows best. Partner Jim Sanfillipo reflected on what it takes to differentiate a company from its competitors, and created a guiding philosophy that has served Sanfillipo Produce Co. Inc. well.

“Our motto is we say ‘yes’ when the other guy says ‘no’,” his son Jamie Sanfillipo, company president and partner, told The Produce News. “This philosophy has really had an impact on our business.”

Facilities expansion and upgrades at Buurma Farms will translate to increased operational efficiencies. “We have expanded our farmland so we can better rotate our crops, which should improve soil health and improve our crop yields,” Buurma Farms Treasurer Loren Buurma told The Produce News.

The history of the multi-generational farming company dates back to its founding in 1896. The company is headquartered in Willard, OH, with farming operations there and in Gregory, MI. Buurma Farms of Georgia LCC grows fresh produce in Claxon, GA.

Agricultural groups across the Buckeye State have once again joined together to sponsor “Agriculture is Cool” at this year’s Ohio State Fair. Under the program, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio State Fair and agricultural commodity groups educate school-age children about the importance of agriculture and careers opportunities available to them as they grow older.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is busy planning events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Ohio Proud program in 2013. “The program was unveiled in August 1993,” Senior Program Manager Lori Panda told The Produce News.

“We are heavy in apricots and plums, not real heavy in peaches and nectarines. We’ve got a few [peach and nectarine] varieties spread out during the summer, but predominantly we are a plum and apricot house,” said David Stone, president and chief executive officer of Valhalla Sales & Marketing Inc. in Kingsburg, CA.