Apple business brisk at Borton
Eric Borton, vice president of international sales & marketing at Borton & Sons Inc., said demand for apples is good across the board. “Domestically, we are featuring Gala, Fuji and Honeycrisp as well as merchandising the full complement of bag programs,” he told The Produce News. “This includes mixed variety bags, mixed fruit bags, as well as holiday bag programs.”
NEPC and Dole make donation to the Greater Boston Food Bank
BURLINGTON, MA — The New England Produce Council and Dole have donated $5,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank. The council hosted a dinner meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12, here at the Greater Boston Food Bank, with Dole as the sponsor.
Thompson, research center see busy 2016
With more than half a year under his belt as the farm manager of the San Luis Valley Research Center, Tyler Thompson reflected upon the work of the facility and its importance to Colorado and its potato industry.
Potato industry could get boost from rebranding
As is true for all sectors of agriculture, the potato industry faces its own set of challenges. Tyler Thompson, farm manager of the San Luis Valley Research Center, said rebranding of the potato could overcome significant problems faced by the industry.
Monte Vista Potato Growers plans shed expansion, organics in 2016
Steady movement through the holidays and continued brisk trade with Mexico gave Monte Vista Potato Growers a good start for 2016, and General Manager Jason Tillman said plans are in the works for expansion at the warehouse level and in the product manifest this year, with limited organic acreage being planted.
“We’re looking at a big warehouse expansion,” Tillman told The Produce News in January. “We’re adding more packing capabilities and more automation.”
Worley & McCullough-Wada partnership remains strong
Crediting its relationship with Wada Farms Marketing Group for the steady holiday shipping pace, Worley & McCullough’s Erin Hatton, grower relations and food-safety officer, said the San Luis Valley operation is shipping year-round, and “everything looks really good for 2016.”
The longtime Colorado grower-shipper teamed up with Wada in 2012 for sales and marketing, and domestic sales of the spuds are handled by Wada while sales to Mexico are managed by Victoria Peters of the San Luis Valley office. Between 25 and 30 percent of the shed’s production goes to Mexico.
Ownership change at Snake River Produce
Longtime Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion grower Reid Saito, one of the founding partners when Snake River Produce was established in Nyssa, OR, in 1999, recently announced his retirement, and replacing him as grower partner in SRP is third-generation farmer Kevin Corn.
Second-generation Innate potato aims to reduce waste, water use, CO2 emissions
J.R. Simplot Co.’s second generation of genetically modified Innate potatoes, which just received safety clearance from the Food & Drug Administration, could reduce potato waste by up to 986 million pounds — they could also provide significant reductions of CO2 emissions and water usage.
United Supermarkets turns 100, unveils year of initiatives to celebrate
For United Supermarkets, 2016 marks the store’s 100th anniversary. To commemorate a century of service, The United Family designed an entire year of initiatives to benefit and improve the communities it serves, including taking a bite out of hunger by donating 100,000 pounds of apples to local food banks across the company’s service areas in April.
Raley’s names new senior vice president of marketing
Raley’s Family of Fine Stores has named Deirdre Zimmermann its senior vice president of marketing. In her new role, Zimmermann will lead the advertising, marketing and external communications teams to advance the company’s brand.