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Plentiful rain over the winter quenched thirsty fields across California, but will delay fruit and vegetable supplies out of Santa Maria during the spring season.

Frequent rainfall and above-normal amounts in California’s key Salinas growing area will likely lower production volumes of spring vegetables this season and delay supplies.

Growers Express, which sells cut vegetables under the Green Giant Fresh brand and has seen demand rise “significantly” over the past year for its Veggie Meal Bowls and its Fresh brand Little Gems lettuce hearts.

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.