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A fruitful season should be in store for the summer berry categories, as grower-shippers report ample supplies of good-quality fruit.

A lingering cold and rainy season had grower-shippers in Michigan waiting a little longer than normal this year to get their summer deals going.

Blueberries continue to attract a strong following in the U.S. They’ve shown the third-highest rate of growth in the fruit category, after raspberries and blackberries.

Raspberries and blackberries were the fastest-growing fruit categories in the produce department during the period from 2006-08 to 2016-18, based on average annual per capita consumption.

Employees of Kingsville, Ontario-based Red Sun Farms have again upped their generosity in giving to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Southwestern Ontario.

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.

IPR Fresh, Rio Rico, Ariz., has sweet corn and chili peppers for the first time this season, said president Jose Luis Obregon.

Distributors of produce from West Mexico were hoping for a fruitful spring after a fall/winter season affected by rainstorms and cold weather.

Champagne brand mangoes from Chiapas, Mexico, the signature item for Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Ciruli Bros., should peak during the second week of March, said partner Chris Ciruli.

Matt Quiring is now director of sales for Leamington, Ontario-based Nature Fresh Farms.