Index Fresh added Laura Lutjen to its sales and business development team. An industry veteran, Lutjen contributes extensive experience with fresh produce brand growth on a nationwide scale. Over the course of several years, she has led regional teams for national brands and developed valuable networks and lasting industry relationships.

NuBerry Farms owns berry fields in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan and Washington, which allows the company to have control of the quality from the moment it is planted into the ground.

The spring is shaping up very well at D’Ottavio Farms, thanks to a combination of cooler weather earlier in the season and warmer weather later on.

After an extensive international search, Zespri has appointed Jason Te Brake as CEO of Zespri. Te Brake is currently Zespri’s chief operating officer and will succeed outgoing CEO Daniel Mathieson who is leaving Zespri to join Driscoll’s, effective July 1.

“Jason is an outstanding executive with the strong commercial and stakeholder management experience we were looking for," said Zespri Chairman Nathan Flowerday. "He has a clear strategic vision to help Zespri and the industry achieve its immense potential and the operational expertise to ensure we do so."

Superfresh Growers historically accounts for more than 15 percent of the Northwest Cherry volume.

Vegpro International Inc., producer of Fresh Attitude brand lettuce available in more than 2,500 retail locations across the country, will build one of Canada's largest greenhouses in Quebec’s Sherrington area. This state-of-the-art facility will be able to produce 7.8 million pounds of fresh lettuce and vegetables annually, regardless of the season. This represents an average of 150,000 pounds per week, or 62 million portions of salad  each year.