Sweet Clover Produce LLC has worked hard to take heavy lifting out of the onion equation for its foodservice customers. Speaking from his office in Walla Walla, WA, Sales Manager Bill Brownfield said 25-pound onion cartons have become increasingly popular. “The cartons are wider, so you don’t have any issues with people lifting them,” he told The Produce News July 6. “They like these cartons to protect the product.”

Simcha Weinstein, director of marketing for Albert’s Organics, headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA, told The Produce News that while still a relatively small portion of the company’s business, foodservice “is an area where we are currently focusing a lot of attention and seeing some of our strongest growth. We distribute our foodservice items nationwide.”

The firm is a full-service organic produce wholesale distributor that carries a complete line of fresh organic produce.

Cindy Jewell, director of marketing for California Giant Berry Farms, a d/b/a of California Giant Inc., headquartered in Watsonville, CA, said July 7 that foodservice is a small portion of its annual volume, adding “But we definitely value our foodservice business and hope to grow that volume in the future. We enjoy a strong relationship with our foodservice distributors that work with the full line of end users in foodservice.”

Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, will be displaying its full line of garlic products, with a special highlight on its Squeeze Garlic, at booth number 133 at the July 29-31 Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference & Exposition in Monterey, CA.

Louis J. Hymel III, director of purchasing and marketing for the company, told The Produce News that in addition to him, Mitch DiMarco, director of foodservice, will be on hand at the booth to greet customers and prospective customers.

Kevin Donovan, national sales manager for Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA, told The Produce News that the company is finding that foodservice operators are using more Shiitake, Portabella and Crimini mushrooms.

Claudia Wenzing, who is well known for her work in forging partnerships with produce companies at the United Fresh Produce Association and, before that, the Produce for Better Health Foundation, retired July 15.

Ms. Wenzing left her post after three years serving as United Fresh’s vice president of business development, and the association has yet to make a final decision on restaffing the position, said Ray Gilmer, United Fresh’s vice president of communications.

“She saw this as an opportunity to spend time with a new grandchild,” he said.