Industry veteran, Jerry Wagner, is retiring from Farmer's Best after an amazing 26 years with the company. As Director of Sales, the 55 year old has spent nearly half his life in the industry helping Farmer's Best shape the company's story of success. The Tarriba family has been growing in Western Mexico since the mid 60's and with Jerry's help, opened the company's first US operations in 1986 in Nogales, AZ and then Edinburg, TX in 2009. Steve Yubeta (You-bet-uh) will take over as Director of Sales and Marketing. General Manager, Leonardo Tarriba, tells AndNowUKnow, "Jerry helped us achieve our 30 million packages a year company. When he began, Jerry was our one-man sales team and now we have grown to 7 under his watch and leadership. He has been an amazing asset, an innovative part of the Farmer's Best family, and a wonderful friend."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Grape harvest is in full swing with Crown Jewels Produce. The company is packing multiple varieties of grapes that include Crimsons, Vintage Reds, Princess, Autumn Royals, with Autumn Kings on the horizon. Packaging of choice is standard cartons, styro foam, rpcs, stand up pouch handle bags, and clam shells. In addition, the company has finished packing Granada variety pomegranates, and has started Foothills, with Wonderfuls kicking off in late September. General Manager, Atomic Torosian, tells AndNowUKnow, "The quality on the Pomes looks very good so far, but may be one size smaller than last season like much of the stone fruit and pear crop has been."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
