PHILADELPHIA — Beyond the expense that all 26 produce companies took to move from the old Philadelphia market into the new terminal, M. Levin & Co. Inc. is investing $1 million to build banana-ripening rooms, according to Mark Levin, company president.

The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market’s executive director Sonny DiCrecchio observed, “Nothing really states the confidence in the market like the investment the Levins have put in. It was quite a chance to take and they never wavered from the beginning.”

Sometime within the next month or so, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council will release its first sales data report analyzing fresh produce sales at retail in the California marketplace.

“As far as we know, we are the only regional produce industry trade association offering this service,” said Carissa Mace, president of the council, which is based in La Mirada, CA.

PHILADELPHIA — “I love it. It is better than I ever thought. I never imagined it would be so nice and easy to work,” Rick Milavsky, vice president of Frank Leone, which does business as B.R.S. Produce Co. said of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market.

What does he like best about the new market?

“Everything!” Mr. Milavsky exclaimed, adding that it is a huge advantage not to break the cold chain. “The product holds up so much better.”

Among the businesses operating out of Philadelphia’s new state-of-the-art Wholesale Produce Market is T.M. Kovacevich Philadelphia, a distributor of premium fruit.

And among TMK’s sources for fruit is Wenatchee, WA-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, a grower-shipper that has been providing the Philadelphia distributor with apples, cherries and pears since the 1970s, according to Oneonta Marketing Director Scott Marboe.

Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing is partnering with the makers of Reynolds Wrap non-stick foil in a cross promotion that aims to encourage consumers to grill vegetables this summer.

Starting July 15, instant-redeemable coupons for $1 off Reynolds Wrap non-stick foil products will be affixed to 12-ounce packages of Mann’s vegetable medley, broccoli and cauliflower, broccoli and carrots, “Broccoli Wokly,” and California stir­­­fry distributed throughout the United States.

This is the second of three promotions the two companies are planning for 2011.

Wenatchee, WA-based Stemilt Growers recently completed two charitable efforts. The company has donated to a scholarship fund and raised money to fund the American Cancer Society.

Education

Kyle Mathison and Jay Fulbright of Stemilt Growers presented Washington Apple Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Witherbee with a check for $8,500 July 5. The funds for the check came from the proceeds of the third-annual Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held May 19 in Wenatchee.