With the volume of the recently completed harvest of Bard Valley Medjool dates up 15 percent over the prior year and an anticipated continued growth in supply of 10 to 15 percent annually over the next five years, Bard Valley Medjool Date Growers Association in Yuma, AZ, is making a major consumer advertising and public relations push to build continued growth in demand ahead of the expected volume increases.

NEW ORLEANS -- Melissa's/World Variety Produce Inc., a Los Angeles-based company that offers more than 1,000 exotic produce items, including organic produce, soy items and specialty food items, to retailers across the nation, hosted an exciting presentation about its emerging trends and new items Oct. 19 during the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit Convention & Exposition, here.

J. Bonafede Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, was founded in 1912. The company began as a produce company at the market that was then located in downtown Boston. In 1966, officials in the city wanted to renovate the area, and gave businesses within a half-mile-square section orders to evacuate. Produce professionals came together and the New England Produce Center in Chelsea opened in 1968.

Today, J. Bonafede Co. is operated by Eugene Fabio, president, and his brother, Butch, who is treasurer.

“We’re pretty much in full swing now, with at least a little product coming from about everywhere,” Ken Cavallaro, treasurer of John Cerasuolo Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, told The Produce News. “The Northeast will peter out completely soon, and we’ll start working with Southeast, Mexico and California suppliers.

“We are moving our basic lineup of vegetables currently,” he continued. “As always, we handle a full line of vegetables from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.”

Sanger, CA, citrus grower and General Manager of Orange Cove — Sanger Citrus Association Kevin Severns was unanimously elected to serve as the 2013-14 California Citrus Mutual board chairman.

NEW ORLEANS — The Grant J. Hunt Co., headquartered in Oakland, CA, introduced a four-pound bag of California oranges complete with Tajín seasoning. The new item debuted at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention, here.

The bag will be available year round and will feature California Navel or Valencia oranges, depending upon the season