The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council is funding research on new peach varieties to stay in the game when competition heats up.

The New York Apple Association has promoted Cailin Kowalewski to account manager.

Hanford, Calif.-based Flavor Tree Fruit Co. LLC now is focusing on specialty items for the California summer fruit deal, and perhaps its biggest is its Verry Cherry plum – a high-brix fruit cross between various cherry and plum varieties, said Maurice Cameron, president.

Though prices were high in early April, seasonally increasing supplies of watermelon are on tap through the summer months.

A Los Angeles private equity firm is acquiring Bolthouse Farms from Campbell Soup Co. for $510 million.

As the Mexican grape season begins, importers will be seeing an expected 22-million carton crop this season, a one-third increase from last season.

Christopher Valadez is the new president of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, Salinas.

Terra Exports, Las Vegas, has hired Manuel Escandon, who is based in Chile, as part of its South American expansion.

BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, Kelowna, British Columbia, has appointed Todd McMyn as CEO and Ross Dwhytie as chief financial officer.

The Mexican table grape deal may be getting off to a slightly later start than usual this season, but grower-shippers expect volume to be significantly higher than last year.