Deardorff Family Farms announced that it is nearing completion on a new LEED-certified facility that will serve as its headquarters. The facility will include 115,000 square feet of cooling, processing, packing and office space. The scheduled completion date is the first quarter of 2012.

“This project is just one more example of our family’s four-generation-long commitment to sustainability,” Tom Deardorff II, president of Deardorff Family Farms, said in a press release.

Stemilt Growers Inc., headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, plans to pull out the stops this year with the unveiling of its new “Lil Snappers” display at the PMA Fresh Summit 2011.

“We’re going to launch a kid-sized apples campaign,” Roger Pepperl, director of marketing at Stemilt Growers, told The Produce News. “These are apples that eat well when they’re small.”

D’Anjou pears will also be featured as part of the innovative promotion.

Apio Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Landec Corp. and a leading producer of fresh-cut vegetable products, has introduced a chipotle salad kit, a new flavor profile to add to its successful salad-kit line. The new SKU began shipping nationwide on Sept. 19.

The company’s fresh-cut vegetable-based salad line was first introduced to the market in clubstores in 2005 with the broccoli salad kit followed by the Asian salad kit in 2006. These two salads were later introduced to the retail market in 12-ounce size package in 2009.

Kingston & Associates Marketing LLC, a leading distributor and marketer of fresh produce to the restaurant and cruise line industries, announced its plan to begin integrating with its Southeast warehouse facility, Kingston Cross Dock & Cold Storage.

Mann Packing Co., a leading supplier of washed and ready-to-eat vegetables based in Salinas, CA, will feature the company’s re-launched Snacks on the Go! product portfolio at the upcoming PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta.

Mann’s Snacks On The Go! product platform is a full line of fresh-cut vegetables and fruits packaged in multiple combinations for snacking convenience.

This year, Mann expanded the line with additional healthy snack offerings and new price points.

Amy Nguyen, sales executive for Dragonberry Produce Inc. in Clackamas, OR, said that the company’s Green Dragon apple and 20th Century pear continue to stir marketplace excitement.

“We’re not stagnant,” Ms. Nguyen told The Produce News. “We always have new commodities coming in.”

This is the fifth season Dragonberry has marketed the Green Dragon. Previously sold to export markets, Dragonberry began selling the variety to domestic markets last year. Visually, the Green Dragon has an appearance similar to a Granny Smith.