Watsonville Coast Produce, a distributor of a full line of produce items, based in Watsonville, CA, is celebrating its 40th year in business this fall and will hold a festival next month to recognize those that have contributed to its success.

"Hard work, loyal employees and partners working together" are what Gary Manfre, a partner in the business, attributes to the success and longevity of the company.

Columbia Marketing International has been named as a finalist for the 2014 PMA Impact Awards in Excellence in Packaging for their innovative single-serving cherry package.

The Produce Marketing Association reported that 56 companies entered 67 products for consideration. Twenty packaging submissions have been chosen by the Impact Award committee as finalists for 2014.

Limoneira Co., a leading agribusiness based in Santa Paula, CA, with prime agricultural land and operations, real estate and water rights in California and Arizona, announced that it has made an investment in Rosales S.A, a citrus packing, marketing and sales operation in La Serena, Chile.

Garlic acreage for Christopher Ranch LLC in Gilroy, CA for the 2014 harvest is similar to 2013, and with the harvest well under way, yields appear normal, according to President Bill Christopher. That is an improvement over last year, when “yields were off about 10 or 15 percent,” he told The Produce News July 22.

Next year could be a different story, however. “We are very concerned about next year with the lack of water,” he said.

Robinson Fresh continues to build its supply-side relationships to ensure that the domestic marketplace has access to the finest quality asparagus available at any time of year.

“Peru is a key source of Robinson Fresh’s asparagus supply with seasonal volumes from Mexico, California and Washington,” Joe Dugo, senior sourcing representative, told The Produce News. “Although Robinson Fresh offers Peruvian asparagus year-round, volume typically peaks at the end of August through mid-December.”

ISELIN, NJ — Allegiance Retail Services LLC announced Aug. 18 the addition of Gary Roselli as category manager for produce and floral. In this position, he will focus on managing merchandising programs and recommending new initiatives and strategies for meeting sales and profit goals.