Bobby Chacko has been appointed CEO of Groupe Bonduelle Fresh Americas. He will also become a member of Groupe Bonduelle’s global leadership team. Chacko succeeds Andrea Montagna, who has stepped down after serving as the company’s CEO since 2021.

The Chilean grape industry has shipped 20 million boxes globally through Week 8, and the Chilean Grape Committee estimates they will end the season very close to 62 million boxes. The U.S. will receive roughly 57 percent of the total volume — around 35 million boxes.

Chile has exported 15 million boxes to the U.S. through Week 8. Another 20 million will be shipped between Weeks 9 and 17, with the East Coast receiving approximately 15 million, and the West Coast 5 million. Weeks 11 and 12 have been highlighted as the peak weeks for shipments.

Harris Teeter and Consalo Family Farms teamed up to provide fresh produce to those in need through their Mandarins Making a Difference campaign. For every pound of Little Smoochies mandarins purchased at North Carolina Harris Teeter locations March 6-12, Consalo Family Farms will donate a pound of mandarin oranges to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

During the March transition season for avocados and mangos, Mission Produce is featuring its Peruvian organics, its upcoming Mexican mango program and its Emeralds in the Rough avocado bags.

The start of Vidalia onion season is almost here, with the official pack date announced by the Georgia Agriculture Commissioner and Vidalia Onion Committee. Vidalia onion fans across the country can mark their calendars for April 17, when the sweet onions are set to ship to grocery stores nationwide.

Virginia Miller has joined SunFed as sales account manager.

Prior to joining the company Miller worked as a district sales manager for Del Monte Fresh Produce for seven years, and she held positions at Dole Fresh Vegetables and Oppy prior to that. She got her start in produce as an operations manager at HEB.