Michael Warren, president of Central American Produce, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that many new and exciting changes have occurred within the company in the past year.

“In July, we added a pineapple program to our lineup,” said Mr. Warren. “Pineapples are not terribly difficult to handle, but they do require sensitive treatment. We have an exclusive arrangement with a farm in Costa Rica on the ‘Bella Vista’ brand, and we have invested in building a facility there to ensure that the fruit is handled to our specifications.”

Representatives of Michigan's apple industry are deep in the strategic planning process for the coming five years. Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, said the organization's board and industry representatives began discussion of the five-year plan this past July. The most recent talks took place Dec. 5 at the 10th Annual Michigan Apple Growers Luncheon at the 2012 Great Lakes EXPO in Grand Rapids, MI.

Associated Potato Growers Inc., located in Grand Forks, ND, is a cooperative comprised of 18 growers from North Dakota and Minnesota. The organization is one of the largest fresh red potato packing facilities in the Midwest. Members also grow yellows. Associated Potato Growers has three facilities located in Grand Forks, Grafton and Drayton, ND.

“Movement has been good up until the week of Thanksgiving at which time it slowed up,” Manager Paul Dolan told The Produce News. “It is still a little slow at this time, but this is not uncommon after a holiday.”

As with most produce companies in Nogales, AZ — and in many other parts of the country and in other industries as well — the last couple of years have had their challenges for Thomas Produce Sales Inc. But with “a couple of challenging seasons under our belt here, I am hoping for a better one this year,” said Chuck Thomas, president of the firm.

“It looks like we are pick up some new business, so that is encouraging,” he said.

Utah Onions, Inc. of Syracuse, UT, and Gerrald’s Vidalia Sweets of Vidalia, GA, have finalized a strategic partnership that will bring Utah Onions to the table for the 2013 Vidalia onion season.

According to Utah Onions Director of Business Development Richard Pazderski, the partnership will allow the company to supply its retail and wholesale customers with “Vidalia Sweet” onions for the season starting this spring, shipping from mid-April well into July.

Bernardi & Associates Inc., which is headquartered in Nogales, AZ, and has branch offices in California, Texas and Florida, is a full-line broker in the Nogales tomato and vegetable deal.

“Our sales team stays the same for this year, and we are still moving the same kind of commodities” as in past seasons, said President Joe Bernardi. “We are heavy to tomatoes” but also handle “all of the bell peppers, cucumbers, squashes, melons and chilis.”