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California’s Santa Maria shippers say the pandemic’s effect on marketing has been profound, but foodservice demand is slowly recovering.

With core items that include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and cilantro, Santa Maria, Calif.-based Gold Coast Packing Co. Inc. also has significantly grown its Brussels sprouts program in recent years.

With the help of the H-2A program, Santa Maria growers expect tight but manageable labor availability for 2021.

With planting season only weeks away, severe drought conditions are raising concerns about the 2021 Red River Valley potato crop in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Tabletop strawberry production under high tunnels is being attempted on a limited scale in California’s Santa Maria growing district.

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.

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.