TOKYO, Japan: Suntory Flowers has named Yasunori Yomo president, effective April 1. He succeeds Taizo Chinju, who has been promoted to chairman. Yomo began his career as a breeder when he was assigned to Suntory’s flower business division in 1995.

The California Table Grape Commission is positioned to expand international demand for California table grapes in 16 target markets with its 2023 export marketing campaign.

The 16 target markets for the 2023 season represented 94.4 percent of export volume June through December in 2022. Of those markets, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand and Vietnam increased in both volume and value in 2022 compared to 2021 despite a variety of global export challenges.

The Idaho Potato Commission and the American Diabetes Association have announced a multi-year partnership making fresh Idaho potatoes the first vegetable to participate in the ADA’s esteemed, Better Choices for Life program. The purpose of the partnership is to help educate tens of millions of Americans on ways they can add Idaho potatoes to their meal plan.

The Hunts Point Produce Market is the biggest produce market in the country, and only taking into consideration the sale of fruits and vegetables, the Bronx market is the largest in the world.

US Foods Holding Corp. appointed Andrew Iacobucci as its senior executive vice president, field operations and chief commercial officer. In his new role, Iacobucci will oversee the company’s local sales, commercial excellence, merchandising, marketing, CHEF’STORE, US Foods Direct and MOXē teams, and have P&L responsibility for the company’s broadline business.

He will report to CEO Dave Flitman as a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.

With the California avocado crop for 2023 expected to reach only 257 million pounds, which places it at about 10 percent below the four year volume average, the California Avocado Commission’s is expecting very strong demand throughout its truncated season.