CHICAGO — Among the many new items being promoted at the recent United Fresh 2014 convention, here, were Cherriots, a new snacking tomato marketed by San Antonio-based NatureSweet Tomatoes.

Columbia Marketing International, based in Wenatchee, WA, announced Garrett Joeckel as production and sales analyst on June 11.

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ — The season's first break bulk ship bearing South Africa citrus discharged June 23 at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, located here on the Delaware River. 

Fruit sampled by The Produce News was sweet and in good condition. According to Tom Mastromarco at Holt Logistics Corp., there were 3,400 pallets of South African citrus aboard "Green Italia." The ship belongs to Seatrade, which has a two-year exclusive agreement to run this South African reefer program to Gloucester.

ST. LOUIS — With a short move through St. Louis, Front Row Produce LLC has tripled its operating space.

The March move came 10 years after Tony Pupillo founded the company. Front Row started with a second partner who left the firm after two years.

Pupillo has refurbished a 60,000-square-foot warehouse that was previously operated by a cheese company. The facility’s three coolers have been partitioned to give Front Row five different temperature zones.

Like so much of the United States, the winter and spring in Michigan was long, cold and wet. These factors have delayed production in the state, but fruit and vegetable growers alike indicated that their fresh products will be in good condition.

Stemilt will kick off the second season of its premium cherry program, Kyle’s Pick, this week in Washington state, about a week ahead of last season’s timing.