The much-anticipated traveling billboard for Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable industry, also known as the Spudmobile, is now well on its way to completion as the growers announce their partnership with two Wisconsin-based companies to finish the interior and exterior elements of the project.

CGS Premier in New Berlin and Cineviz in Green Bay both have extensive experience taking everyday vehicles and turning them into unique promotional tools that are fun and educational for those who go through them.

For a successful season, watermelon growers need to be in the market for the summer holidays, according to Mike Meyer, watermelon salesman for Keith Connell, Inc., in Stillwell, KS. “If you’re late or don’t hit peak demand, it really messes you up,” he said.

This spring, as usual, Keith Connell is planning to be in the market for the coming Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays.

NOGALES, AZ — The operations of longtime watermelon specialist Big Chuy Distributors & Sons Inc., moved a step forward this spring.

Chuy Lopez, Jr., the general manager of the firm, indicated that three of his Mexican shippers this spring are operating new state-of-the-art watermelon packing sheds.

“This will make it easier with sizing and weighing,” Lopez said.

Big Chuy will handle the same volume of seedless and mini-sized watermelons as last year, he indicated.

Midwest Best Produce, which this year has already begun shipping watermelons produced offshore, as well as shipping Mexican watermelons, is expecting to begin its Florida and Texas watermelon deals the first week of May.

Dan Pupillo Jr., president of the firm, which is based on the St. Louis Produce Market, said his Florida deal will be followed by Georgia and Missouri.

Missouri will begin about June 25 if the weather goes as expected, Pupillo added.

The California Avocado Commission has launched an exciting on-fruit branding program that will clearly identify California avocados as from California and provide close linkage to CAC’s marketing campaign. Several avocado handlers will be applying the new California avocado labels to their fruit this season.

“Our growing areas are highly diversified which enables us to offer a diverse menu of specialty products to our customers,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL. “We believe that it’s important to work from the ground up, and as a grower, importer, processor and shipper of specialty products we can bring these high quality items to our customers year-round.”