Allan O'Donoghue, a longtime retail produce expert, has joined RJO Produce as its first-ever retail-grower strategist. The addition of O’Donoghue strengthens RJO’s retail engagement and gives the firm’s grower customers additional insight into the retail sector.

In this new role, O’Donoghue will be a liaison between retailers and growers-shippers, helping retailers make better buying decisions that recognize market realities, while boosting their bottom lines.

Taylor Farms unveiled a foodservice product line expansion in the form of premium, ready-to-use lettuce Toppers for every application — Taylor Toppers. The product line features Perfect Fit, Deli Gem and Whole Leaf Singles.

The Perfect Leaf is a hybrid of green leaf and Iceberg that delivers a consistently round shape and frilled edges for the “perfect” fit atop your hamburger bun — leaving no part of the leaf to waste. The Perfect Fit Leaf also presents less rib and a higher heat tolerance than traditional lettuces producing a fresh, high-quality product.

Fruit Royale Inc. has been successfully growing, packing, importing, exporting and promoting grapes since 2004, working directly with its contracted growers on all aspects of fruit production.

The company is responsible for more than 1,200 acres in California with the San Joaquin Valley helping to supply customers from July through December — accounting for more than 1 million cases of grapes in the state and imports from Peru, Chile and Mexico adding another million boxes.

Among the many professional services The Ruby Company brings to the fresh produce industry, the Chicago-based company is expanding its footprint and geographic reach with a new office opening in Troy, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. “We’re hoping to start servicing the regional distributors, wholesalers, and re-packers,” said Josh Wolff, Co-Partner and Director of Growth & Strategy at The Ruby Company.

Brighter Bites announced a partnership with GoodPop. Since its founding, GoodPop has been committed to helping fight against hunger in America by providing access to healthy meals for those who need it most.

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ – For 25 years, South African citrus has played an important role in supplying U.S. consumers with high-quality citrus throughout the summer, and that milestone was celebrated July 21 at Gloucester Terminals LLC, operated by Holt Logistics, here.