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Amid the coronavirus pandemic, video conferencing is the new thing with Yakima-based Northwest Cherry Growers, said B.J. Thurlby, president.

Vancouver, British Columbia-based The Oppenheimer Group is “renewing” orchards, said Jon Bailey, sales manager.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers LLC introduced a new Ultimate cherry line last season, said Brianna Shales, communications manager.

Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., has shipped Peruvian hass avocados to South Korea for the first time.

Northwest cherry suppliers say they are working to overcome two hurdles connected to the coronavirus COVID-19 as they hurtle toward a new season. One is fear; the other, money.

Even though this is an industry of multigenerational family farms, it’s not often a father’s offspring takes over his position at someone else’s business.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited May 27 with B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherries, about the soon-starting cherry season.

Organics are a relatively tiny part — about 2% — of the Northwest cherry deal, but they play a key role.

Produce industry veteran Ron Dandrea, 57, died April 11.

As the volume of fresh produce transported between North America and South America increases, Sealand is working to “streamline and effectively deliver an unbreakable end-to-end avocado cold chain journey.”