More Maggie G from the expo floor at Southern Exposure
HOLLYWOOD, FL — A record crowd packed the Diplomat Hotel and Resort here March 3-5 for the Southeast Produce Council Southern Exposure 2016 conference and trade show. The theme was "Produce in Paradise" and that was right on target, as our Maggie Giuffrida found out.
Honeybear Chilean Honeycrisp bonanza expected
More than ten years after investing in Southern Hemisphere Honeycrisp, Honeybear Brands is reaping dividends with a record harvest of Chilean Honeycrisp that will allow the company to expand its program with existing retailers and open new markets in 2016 and beyond.
The Minnesota-based grower and developer of premium and new varieties will ship more than a quarter of a million cases of Honeycrisp apples with the first arrivals landing on both East and West Coasts in late April.
CPMA hosting second Half Your Plate Hockey Classic
Canadians and hockey, just like healthy eating and exercise, pair perfectly. For the second year in a row, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association will be hosting the Half Your Plate Hockey Classic in conjunction with its annual convention and trade show. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, April 12 in Calgary.
Eat Smart’s new salad kit delivers six superfoods
March is National Nutrition Month, and Apio Inc. is celebrating by introducing a nutritious and delicious superfood salad designed to feed consumers’ passion for the flavors of Asian cuisine.
RP Distributing founder dies at 53
Renato Andres Parada, the founder RP Distributing in Nogales, died March 8 at the age of 53. He kept residences in Austin, MN and Tucson, AZ, and died at his summer home in Austin.
Vidalia crop will be slightly smaller, but quality shaping up and promotable volume on the way
It is too soon to know how this year’s Vidalia crop will ultimately turn out — the onion gets most of its size during its last few weeks underground and most growers won’t begin shipping until the last week of April — but early season weather problems appear to have been overcome and the region is expecting a typical season based on stands in the field.
Food Lion to remodel 142 Charlotte-area stores
Food Lion has announced the company will remodel 142 stores in the greater Charlotte, NC, market in 2016. In an effort to make shopping easier and more affordable for its customers, the company will make a $215 million investment in its stores. This includes remodeling the stores, additional price investments throughout the year and investments in associates and the community through its Food Lion Feeds initiatives.
Apple industry leader Bernie Swindeman dies at 80
Bernard F. (Bernie) Swindeman of Tecumseh, MI, and Lake Suzy, FL, died Feb. 29 after a brief illness at his Florida residence. He was 80.
Mr. Swindeman was born Feb. 20, 1936 in Toledo, OH, to Walter and Lucile (Timmons) Swindeman. He married Beverly (Murphy) in 1955. In 1959, with a family already started, they took over Applewood Orchards Inc. from his father. Together, they steadily built their business to where they were growing, packing and shipping apples to Midwest-based grocery chains.