Salinas, CA, lettuce shippers are seeing strong processor demand, while California and New Mexico onion shippers are seeing improving demand on lighter supplies. Idaho russet shippers are experiencing continued modest carton demand.

ICEBERG LETTUCE

A few key events are occurring simultaneously and quickly pushing lettuce prices higher.

A year ago, Raleigh, NC-based L&M Cos. Inc. got into the mango business in a pretty big way.

Tom Argyros, product manager for the firm, downplayed the volume the firm shipped, but said, “We imported about two million cartons from Mexico and then followed that with about 300,000 from Peru this winter.”

Taylor Farms California, Inc. of Salinas, CA, is initiating a voluntary recall of foodservice bagged salads that have the potential of being contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, according to a letter dated May 30 obtained this morning by The Produce News.

The recalled salad bags have code dates of STF137A3, STF137A4, STF138B3 and STF138B4. The code date is typically located in the front panel of the bags.

Wenatchee, WA-based Columbia Marketing International, a shipper of conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, announced the hire of JEFF NIESZ to its domestic sales team on May 7.

Mr. Niesz grew up on a family farm in Wapato and attended Washington State University where he majored in agricultural economics.

CENTER, CO — With its integrated farming/shipping/marketing program firmly in place, Aspen Produce of Center, CO, is increasing its focus on domestic chain business, according to Jed Ellithorpe and Dwayne Weyers, both principals of the operation.

Mr. Weyers said Aspen’s sales team, which includes Michele Peterson and Ryan Haynie, handles both domestic and export customers, with emphasis on U.S. receivers this season.

Mountain Valley Logistics welcomed its newest staff member, Michael Trujillo, to the transportation team this past March. “He is taking great strides in learning the business as well as learning our operation,” Transportation Manager Kurt Holland told The Produce News on May 18.