Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, told The Produce News that the company will be showcasing its full line of garlic products with a highlight on its “Grill Garlic-Q” barbeque sauces at the upcoming Southern Exposure Retail & Foodservice Conference & Expo at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL, on Feb. 28-March 2.

Greenpoint Distributing LLC in Nogales, AZ, lost “probably over 300 hectares” or around 750 acres of sweet corn in the freeze that hit northern Mexico in mid-January, resulting in the loss of “over 300 truckloads of corn that we would have been receiving in the spring,” said Rick Burkett, sales director for the company.

But apart from that, the company’s other spring crops should be at normal production or better, Mr. Burkett said Feb. 8.

Nonpareil Farms, a Blackfoot, ID-based grower-packer-marketer of fresh potatoes, has entered into a letter of intent for the sale of its dehydrated potato business to Basic American Foods.

Nonpareil said the sale would enable it to focus on its rapidly growing fresh produce brand.

Both Basic American Foods and Nonpareil Farms are working toward negotiating the various agreements involved in the transaction and anticipate the process to take eight to 10 weeks to conclude and finalize the documents.

Two leading Canadian greenhouse growers were among Canada's Best Managed Companies, a national awards program recognizing Canadian companies that have implemented world-class business practices and created value in innovative ways.

Mike Blume, sales representative for Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc., headquartered in Greencastle, PA, said that the company is exhibiting at the Southern Exposure Retail & Foodservice Conference & Expo being held this year at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL, on Feb. 28-March 2.

Ed Bertaud, the Houston-based director of business development for the Pallet Management Division of IFCO Systems N.A. Inc. and chairman of the Texas International Produce Association, will be the recipient of the second annual Rising Star Award, which will be presented by The Produce News at the America Trades Produce conference, scheduled for March 6-8 in McAllen, TX.