The key to success for Anthony Vineyards has been consistency. Family patriarch Anthony Bianco, known for his business acumen at a young age, eventually garnered a national reputation following a proclamation by New Yorker Magazine naming him “Juice Grape King of the United States.”

Following his death in 1967, his four sons took their father’s vision to the next level with the founding of Anthony Vineyards.

“We are looking forward to a good season on melons” for the Westside deal this year, Atomic Torosian, a partner in Crown Jewels Produce LLC in Fresno, CA, said in an interview with The Produce News. He expected to have good volume in cantaloupes all the way through the deal, “with honeydews to match,” which will be good for promotions throughout the season.

“Everything is pretty much the same” as it has been in recent years for the Westside melon program for the 2014 season at Turlock Fruit Co. Inc. in Turlock, CA, according to Steve Smith, an owner and officer in the company. Turlock Fruit has the same mix of products with about the same acreage as in the past, he said.

The company grows cantaloupes and honeydew melons as well as seven varieties of mixed or specialty melons: Casaba, Juan Canary, orange-flesh honeydew, Santa Clause (also called Piel de Sapo), Crenshaw, Hami and Galia.

During the spring season, Pura Vida Farms LLC in Scottsdale, AZ, grows and ships melons out of Yuma, AZ, and Blythe, CA, according to Wes Liefer, a partner in the company.

“We are shipping right now” out of Yuma, “ he said May 29. “In about seven to 10 days, we will start shipping out of Blythe. We should go to about July 15.”

Pura Vida grows “all melons,” he said. “We grow watermelons, cantaloupe, honeydew and all the specialty melons. The variety melons that we grow are orange-flesh, Santa Clause, Canary, Galia, Crenshaw, Casaba and Golden honeydew.”

With a new president in place and a new chief financial officer hired, Brookings, OR-based C&K Market Inc. is expected to emerging from bankruptcy protection this summer. A confirmation hearing before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court is set for June 25 in Eugene, OR.

David D. Doty, the company's new CFO, brings several decades of experience, including serving as the CFO of Star Markets Ltd. on the Hawaiian Islands. Most recently he held the same position for Meadow Valley Corp., a heavy highway civil construction firm based in Phoenix.

VINELAND, NJ — At the end of May, Tom Consalo, vice president of The Freshwave LLC, was looking forward to the start of the New Jersey blueberry season.

Berries from the southern United States were showing good quality and strong volume, and barring any unforeseen weather problems, he expected a smooth transition to berries from the Garden State.