The membership of a tight-knit international organization, National Association of Produce Market Managers, includes diverse “produce market” operations. But that membership has thrived because of what those 100 international members have in common. As with most other organizations in the world, 2020 brought forth common ground.

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic trashed plans for the 74th annual NAPMM conference. That is now rescheduled for March 4-8, 2021, in New Orleans.

While 2020 has been a challenging and strange year, the leaders and staff of Southern Specialties can take pride in the work they’ve done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in being part of a company that has reached a special milestone.

Oakes Farms offers a diversified portfolio of services that reach a global market that include farming, packing, shipping, retail markets and foodservice and seafood distribution.

London Fruit Inc., a south Texas importer and distributor of mangos, avocados, lemons and limes, announced a new partnership with Hazel Technologies for Limes. 

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Hazel Tech and to be the first in the industry to introduce this value-added service to our lime program," said Mario Cardenas, sales manager. “We see food waste as a growing concern to our customers and the consumer, using Hazel Tech for Limes will ensure the best quality product reaches our customers throughout the country.”

Homegrown Organic Farms has been growing and marketing certified organic produce since 1998, and grows more than 60 percent of its own products.

Apple volumes and dollars dipped slightly across the U.S. in October 2020 compared to the year prior, while bags continued to be a leading merchandising strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stemilt reveals these and other Fruit Tracker Fast Facts in its latest video analysis following the release of Nielsen retail scan data ending Oct. 24.