WP Rawl has introduced a new product to its "Nature's Greens" brand line. The new ready-to-bake kale chips kit showcases the versatility of kale and will be launching soon at various retailers throughout the country.

Immokalee, FL-based Lipman, one of North America’s larger open-field tomato growers, welcomed John Amaya to its team.

In his new role as chief development officer, Amaya will manage international supply chain, as well as assist with acquisitions and go-to-market strategies focusing on the vegetable category.

George Kragie, the president of Western Fresh Marketing in Madeira, CA, and a longtime grower-shipper of figs in the Golden State, believes the popularity of the fruit has been helped tremendously in recent years by celebrity chefs.

“Chefs like Emeril Lagasse deserve a lot of credit. They have given us lots of publicity. And in one Iron Chef America episode, figs were one of the main ingredients. That all helps,” he said.

“Our growing partner, Cotton Hope Farms in Monetta, South Carolina, expects that the company’s crop of peaches will be slower than normal out of the gate this year because of an early blast of cold that hit its orchards,” Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations for Sunny Valley International Inc., headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, said May 5. “This means that our customers will have to wait a little later to enjoy the company’s flavorful southern peaches.”

The California Fig Advisory Board was established more than 60 years ago, according to Chief Executive Officer Karla Stockli.

Black Gold Farms has recently kicked off its 2014 summer red potato harvest with its popular locally grown programs.