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Summer Citrus from South Africa continues its successful consumer targeted promotions this season, while importers find their own marketing methods.

Read a few quick updates on companies growing and marketing fresh produce from California’s Salinas Valley, including new hires, new products and crop updates.

Continuing a holiday tradition that started in 1982, Dave Haun was on hand at the Salvation Army in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 12, watching as a full load of potatoes were moved from a semi tractor-trailer.

Starting with a mini-romaine selection, Coastline Family Farms is introducing a line of products under the sub-brand of Culinary Bouquet, says Robert Verloop, chief operating officer of the Salinas, Calif.-based company.

Salinas Valley vegetable commodities that enjoyed more than a double-digit increase in shipments in 2020 included broccoli, cauliflower, celery hearts and iceberg lettuce.

California’s Salinas Valley vegetable shippers had more than enough supply for the start of the deal this year.

A year ago, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California established a first-of-its-kind housing program for farmworkers in the Salinas Valley who were exposed to COVID-19.

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement board has endorsed new pre-harvest testing guidance in an effort to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks associated with leafy greens.

Reinforcing its focus on frozen cut vegetables and fruit, Monterey, Calif.-based Growers Express has opened a 24,000-square-foot frozen storage facility in San Luis, Ariz.

Houston-based MountainKing expects strong quality for its fall harvest of fresh potatoes in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.