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While above-average rainfall in California this winter put a damper on early supplies of strawberries, grower-shippers expected heavy volume of high-quality fruit once the rain stopped and temperatures started to rise.

The Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission has a wealth of programs on tap this season to encourage consumers to buy California strawberries.

Plant City, Fla.-based Harvest CROO Robotics has developed a new version of its Harvest CROO — Computerized Robotic Optimized Obtainer — harvester and expects to begin commercial harvesting late this year.

Arkansas apple acreage has declined but acreage for the state’s grapes and pecans has risen in the past five years.

Spring typically brings a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables from the Carolinas, and this year is no exception, suppliers and marketers say.

Ample rain and cool nights have characterized spring weather, but Arkansas produce marketers say they expect 2019 crop prospects to be solid this year.

With sweet potato acreage up over the past 15 years but tomato and watermelon acreage down, area harvested for Arkansas vegetables and melons shows mixed trends.

While some grower-shippers may see the Mexican state of Jalisco as a gateway to a head start for that country’s table grape deal, others want no part of it, or at least are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Dinuba, Calif.-based King Fresh Produce LLC is building on its packing efficiencies, said Francisco Ilic, export manager.

California onion grower-shippers are looking forward to a strong season this summer with plenty of good-quality onions available.