The 2011-12 potato season is shaping up nicely for Wahluke Produce Inc. in Mattawa, WA. “We had a wet, cool spring and a very mild summer so far,” Sales Manager Scott Nesbit told The Produce News July 22. “Growing conditions have been almost perfect for growing potatoes this summer. But we still have August to get through. Anything can still happen.”

The harvest was anticipated to ramp up on Aug. 8, which Mr. Nesbit said is two weeks behind typical timetables. “We are hoping for a great crop this year,” he went on to say. “We expect good sizing and quality on our storage crop.”

By paying close attention to the needs of its customer base, Green Tree International Inc. continually validates its reputation as an innovative broker and supplier of quality potatoes from the Pacific Northwest.

“We deliver to individual specs required by our customers,” Co-owner Cary Crum told The Produce News Aug. 1.

“Contrary to popular belief, Gilroy isn’t the capital of garlic production here in the Golden State (though they have a great garlic festival!) — most California garlic is grown in the Central Valley, not far from where The Garlic Company is located.” So states the web site of The Garlic Co. in Bakersfield, CA.

David Grimes, owner of David E. Grimes Co. in Hollister, CA, has been involved in virtually all aspects of the garlic industry over the course of his career of more than 35 years, according to the company web site.

I Love Produce in Kelton, PA, “is going to be looking to export more California garlic this year,” said Jim Provost, managing partner, in an interview with The Produce News July 20.

“We do an international food show in Hong Kong every year called [Asia] Fruit Logistica, and normally that is for setting up our fruit deal with China, so we are exhibiting our USA produce for the Chinese market,” he said.

“There is growing demand for organic commodities overall,” and that includes organic garlic, according to Gurdeep Billan, director of sales for Double D Farms in Coalinga, CA. “We are getting more and more demand” for organic garlic, and in response to that growing demand, “we have increased our acreage.”

Double D Farms grows its garlic “here in Central California, in the Coalinga-Huron area,” Mr. Billan said. “We primarily grow organic garlic” and “have definitely grown our overall acreage this year over last year, I would say, substantially.”