Tex Starr Distributing LLC, grower-shippers of the super sweet papaya variety Royal Star and traditional variety, Sun Crest Maradol papaya, received GFS certification for its farms and packingsheds in Mexico. The company has completed all of the necessary requirements for the GFS-certification program.

MONTE VISTA, CO — With Olympic Figure Skater Rachael Flatt continuing in her role as spokesperson for the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee through June 2013, CPAC is enlarging its electronic reach within social media mainstays Facebook and Twitter, as well as the newer pin-and-share site, Pinterest.

Washington Fruit & Produce Co. expects to begin its cherry harvest around June 12.

When GreenGate Fresh opened its doors in April of 2010, partners Jay Iverson and Travis Pendleton had very lofty goals.

"Are we where we thought we'd be? No," says Mr. Iverson. "But we are much further along than we probably should have hoped for. By any measure or any standard we have had good growth. Averaging in the high teens (percent growth) most months and occasionally in the 20s."

Stemilt Growers Inc., headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, is moving into the 2012 Northwest cherry season on solid ground. “The deal is starting early and finishing late,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News on May 15. “This makes the marketing of a large crop fairly easy as it makes a bigger window.”

According to Mr. Pepperl, the Pacific Northwest is expected to market approximately 21 million boxes of cherries during 2012. Stemilt expects to move 3.2 million boxes into the pipeline by the end of the season.

A longstanding collaboration between Chelan Fresh Marketing in Chelan, WA, and Disney continues with the 2012 Northwest cherry crop, according to Mac Riggan, Chelan’s vice president of marketing.