Business is booming in south Texas, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by some of the produce industry’s leading players. Kansas City, MO-based Keith Connell Inc. is no exception.

The company recently launched Keith Connell Texas in Pharr to take advantage of the ever-increasing trade coming across the border.

Connell Texas just launched a few weeks ago, with Rio Grande Valley industry veteran Roy Salinas holding the reins.

“Out of the blue they contacted me and wanted to open up a branch here in Texas and asked if I was ready for a change,” Mr. Salinas said.

Giant Produce Inc., headquartered in Parma, ID, is capitalizing on the distinctive taste of the region's signature Spanish Sweet onions and the pizazz of caramelization with the introduction of its new value-added product, Onion Valley Caramelized Onions.

"It's relatively new," Don Brown, product development manager, told The Produce News. "We started production on Sept. 15."

Virgil E. Rasmussen, longtime president of Ballantine Produce Co. in Sanger, CA, and former board member and chairman of several table grape and tree fruit industry organizations, died peacefully at his Sanger home Sunday, Nov. 18. He was 94.

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., a grower-owned agricultural cooperative based in Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, released its fiscal 2012 financial results, which included the highest net sales in the company's history and strong growth in net proceeds paid to its growers.

Highlights of the 2012 fiscal year ending Aug 31 include the following:

Giumarra International Berry is preparing for the upcoming import blueberry season and expects increased volumes from the 2011-12 season.

“The Florida heirloom tomato deal will be starting soon,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, told The Produce News on Oct. 17. “Our ‘Southern Selects’ brand of heirloom tomatoes are packed in single layer variety packs. We ship three varieties to each box, and each variety is selected for its flavor and color.”