The weather on Virginia’s Eastern Shore has been a little on the dry side, but temperatures have been perfect for potatoes, resulting in what looks to be a strong crop.

Butch Nottingham, marketing specialist for the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, headquartered in Richmond, VA, told The Produce News that the agency focuses heavily on the state’s potato crops.

Victor Savanello, produce category manager at Allegiance Retail Services LLC, is leaving to join JOH Sales & Marketing as account executive in commodity sales.

John Harley, sales manager for Anthony Vineyards Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, has been producing organic grapes for about 10 years.

“We are fully integrated as a grower, packer and shipper,” said Mr. Harley. “Our organic line is in table grapes only, but we offer all varieties.”

He noted that as increasing numbers of retailers learn about the company’s consistent organic supplies, more are embracing having seasonal California grapes.

“This opportunity was not available as recent as five or six years ago, and is what brought us to the organic table,” he said.

Last year was an unusual one for West Side melons, and particularly for cantaloupe. The harvest got a later-than-normal start, and when a Listeria outbreak associated with cantaloupe from Colorado hit the news in the fall, demand dropped off, leaving some cantaloupe fields unharvested.

Melon growers on the famed West Side of the San Joaquin Valley are hopeful for a better situation this year in several respects.

In February, Santa Cruz Berry Farming Co. in Watsonville, CA, entered its second year of business. But Fritz Koontz, owner and founder of the company, is a veteran berry grower. He has been involved in various aspects of agriculture since college. His experiences have developed in him a deep appreciation of the land and the people that make growing strawberries successful. His passion can be seen in the dedication of the people that work with Mr. Koontz to grow great tasting, high-quality organic and conventional strawberries.

“We continue to increase our organic production,” Kevin Donovan, national sales manager for Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA, said. “Sales have increased and we’ve needed more organic product to fill the demand.”

He said there is a strong and conscious effort for people to look to organic product.

“There is a lot of work being done and study results published by the Mushroom Council that put forth the health benefits and high flavor of organic mushroom. People are responding by increasing their organic purchases.”