Vandervoet & Associates Inc. will have valencia oranges from northwest Mexico for the first time this year, starting with early varieties in January and then regular valencias in late winter/early spring.

Although SunFed has year-round programs, most of the company’s production is in winter.

The Oppenheimer Group is always working on new and innovative opportunities, said Aaron Quon, executive category director of greenhouse.

IPR Fresh, expects to have increased volume this season, said Jose Luis Obregon, president.

Crown Jewels Produce, Nogales, Ariz., will significantly increase the amount of green beans the company brings in from West Mexico this season.

Ciruli Bros. LLC was shipping cucumbers, eggplant and bell peppers in November and expected tomatoes on the vine, rounds and romas in December.

Bernardi & Associates Inc., now is shipping cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, chili peppers and melons from West Mexico,

Divine Flavor LLC, finished a weeklong tour of growers’ hothouse facilities in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Chicago-based Agrow Fresh Produce Co. is “blanketing the marketplace” with a new product — Simply Season and Steam — said Ed Romanelli, vice president of sales and marketing.

Fresh Farms, Rio Rico, Ariz., has launched a new value-added program for one of its retail customers.

After a successful debut in 2018, EarthBlend LLC has begun its second season shipping squash, cucumbers, green bell peppers and hot peppers.

Calavo Growers Inc. will have a 10% acreage increase in greenhouse round and roma tomatoes in Culiacan, West Mexico, this season.

Organic produce plays a role in the Chicago market, but that role may not be as pronounced as it is the West and the East.

Tomatoes and bell peppers are two of the most popular winter produce items shipping from West Mexico.

Ranking of the top retail chains in the Chicago market remains virtually unchanged from a year ago, said Bill Bishop, chief architect at Brick Meets Click, a Barrington, Ill.-based consulting firm.