In late January, Michael Wood, operations manager of J. Roland Wood Farms Inc., in Benson, NC, told The Produce News that the company was currently shipping excellent-quality stored sweet potatoes.

“We will have ample volumes to get us through until the 2013 crop is dug,” said Mr. Wood. “There will not be any green sweet potatoes shipped from here — we’ll be running from cured to cured this year.

“We harvested a nice big crop in 2012,” Jimmy Burch Sr., a partner at Burch Farms LLC in Faison, NC, told The Produce News. “It is selling well and it should last until the 2013 harvest.”

He added that sweet potato production is increasing faster than consumption can keep up with it, despite the hefty increase in demand on both the fresh and the foodservice sides of the business.

Santa Maria, CA-based Sun Coast Farms Sales hired TOMMY MCCLOSKEY as sales manager on Dec. 1.

In his new role, Mr. McCloskey is responsible for managing the company’s sales office in California. He will be handling lettuce, romaine, broccoli, green leaf and red leaf.

The world of organic production and marketing continues to blossom at Rainier Fruit Co. in Yakima, WA. “In the last decade, Rainier Fruit has made a significant emphasis in developing a viable organic program,” Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter told The Produce News Jan. 17.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, headquartered in Oviedo, FL, introduced new and highly innovative packaging for its citrus line last year. The Meyer lemon one-pound smart bag is one of the packages the company introduced.

Nichole Towell, director of marketing for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, said that the company continues to grow its Meyer lemon program.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s annual convention and trade show will descend upon the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto April 17-19.

The 88th edition of CPMA’s keystone event is already 96 percent sold out and, with only 18 exhibits spaces still available, is on target to be the largest yet.

The location of CPMA’s convention and trade show is on a four-year rotation, taking place in Montréal, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. Returning to Toronto this year with 500 exhibit spaces, the 2013 event will claim 25 percent more space than it did in 2009.