United Fresh is now accepting nominations for United Fresh Foundation's 2013 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program. The program honors the foodservice industry's most innovative produce performers and is sponsored by Pro*Act LLC.

The 2012-13 California Navel crop is officially estimated to be 93 million cartons (40-pound equivalent) statewide and 90 million cartons for the valley, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The estimate, officially called the California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report, is prepared annually by NASS in cooperation with the California Department of Food & Agriculture and is commonly referred to in the industry as the CASS report.

Sun Pacific Marketing, based in Pasadena, CA, announced SCOTT HARRINGTON as its new director of business development on Nov. 9.

Greengate Fresh LLP, which was founded almost three years ago, is expanding its product line as it switches production to the winter vegetable deal this year.

“We are adding a spring mix and a spinach pack to our offerings,” said Jay Iverson, vice president of sales and marketing for the Salinas, CA-based firm.

Adaptability is key to business survival, and G.O. Fresh continues to rise to the challenge. “As any business that navigates through a tough economy needs to make changes, so does G.O. Fresh,” Chief Operating Officer Marylou Owen told The Produce News Nov. 12. “This next year promises to be an exciting year as we adapt to an ever-changing marketplace.”

The privately-held company, centrally located in Minneapolis, MN, is a premier processor of fresh, pre-cut fruit and vegetables. The owners, Ms. Owen and Chief Executive Officer Patricia Greene, are industry veterans.