“I am totally optimistic about this season’s New Jersey peach and nectarine programs,” Jeff Danner, general manager of Eastern Propak LLC in Glassboro, NJ, told The Produce News on June 20. “I now work with three New Jersey peach and nectarine growers — Summit City Farms in Glassboro, which is our largest supplier; Heilig Orchards in Richwood; and Gala Orchards in Elmer. I met with all of them in the past week, and they are all reporting a very full crop.”

In June, Keenes, IL-based Frey Farms introduced a new, high-end bottled watermelon juice branded "Tsamma" (pronounced s-amm-a). The juice is manufactured in Lakeland, FL, 30 minutes from Frey's largest watermelon farm.

Wholesum Family Farms, purveyor of the "Wholesum Harvest" brand of organic produce, relaunched its website (www.wholesumharvest.com) to feature a more easily navigable interface, fresh content and better functionality on mobile devices. The company enlisted produce consulting group FreshXperts to guide the relaunch.

Market Fresh announced the addition of Alison Bos to its corporate staff on June 16.

Miami-based Bayshore Produce, well known as an importer of high-quality fruit, especially imported grapes, is entering the California grape deal this season for the first time, and is announcing its new venture to the industry with a colorful new brand.

Especially in the summertime, watermelons are king for Midwest Best Produce in St. Louis.

This summer is no exception, according to Dan Pupillo, Jr., who owns the company.

On June 18, Pupillo indicated that he was receiving Texas and Georgia watermelons. “Texas will run through August and Georgia will run through the end of July.” Missouri-grown watermelons are to begin about July 1.