Tom Burfield

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Woodspur Farms, which harvests 13 varieties of dates from late August until early November, had a record crop this year — up 6% from last year.
Hanford, Calif.-based Nichols Farms, which grows pistachios and almonds, has introduced a new packaging design, said Caleb Adams, director of marketing.
Coachella, Calif.-based Sun Date is increasing the percentage of its product that is organic, said DJ Ryan, sales and operations manager.
In the banana business, process is almost as important as product, according to some marketers. Organic bananas continue to gain market traction, marketers point out.
Just as demand for conventional avocados continues to climb, so does demand for their organic counterparts.
Hass is by far the most popular avocado variety gown in California, but consumers who crave other kinds of avocados have a number of options available from the state’s growers.
The volume of bagged avocados continues to increase every year as consumers seek convenience and/or value options, and retailers discover another way to merchandise avocados and drive sales of multiple pieces of fruit.
The 2020 domestic watermelon harvest was expected to be underway by the second week of April, according to the Winter Springs, Fla.-based National Watermelon Promotion Board.
Cantaloupes and honeydews may not rank as high on the popularity list as watermelons, but they are consumer favorites, and grower-shippers say there should be plenty of them available this spring and summer.
High yields and good flavor seem to be the characteristics grower-shippers look for most when selecting a strawberry variety.