The Perishable Specialist Inc., headquartered in Miami, is a customs broker that is completely dedicated to fruits and vegetables. Ana Ramos, co-owner with her husband Frank, said that a broker that handles fresh produce exclusively serves the importer best because every ounce of effort is concentrated within the produce industry.

“Our company is the epitome of a streamlined process, and we are solely dedicated to fruits and vegetables, which represent 99.9 percent of our day-to-day business,” said Ms. Ramos. “We are more efficient because we are true perishable specialists.”

O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc. continues to move a good crop of red potatoes. Secretary and Treasurer Dave Moquist said the company’s customers are receiving high-quality product and movement has been good.

WASHINGTON — The Food & Drug Administration Friday released two proposed regulations Jan. 4 that, for the first time, will require federal produce safety standards and new preventive controls for all food processors under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

WASHINGTON — Federal inspectors found the outbreak strains of Salmonella in cantaloupe and in the packinghouse of Owensville, IN-based Chamberlain Farms, the firm tied to an outbreak that sickened 261 people and led to three deaths last year, the Food & Drug Administration said in a Dec. 14 warning letter.

The FDA warning letter came after FDA inspected the produce packinghouse and growing fields from Aug. 14-31 and returned for another field inspection Sept. 19-21.

Indianapolis Fruit's The Produce Mom has partnered with Sage Fruit to construct a national marketing campaign for Biggest Loser Fresh produce and encourage consumers to make 2013 a "New Year, New You."

The Produce Mom is the official blog and consumer brand of Indianapolis Fruit Co. The blog is authored by marketing manager, Lori Taylor, a wife and mother of two children, who has seven years of experience with Indy Fruit as a sales representative, buyer and marketing manager for the company.

Dave’s Specialty Imports, one of the larger importers of fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries in North America, added grapes to its Chilean import program.

The family-run company imports from Argentina, Chile, Guatemala and Mexico, and has primarily focused on the berry category during the last 20 years of business.