IPC names Stanley Trout to foodservice team
Stanley Trout joined the Idaho Potato Commission foodservice marketing team as promotions director for the Southeast, effective Dec. 1. He will be based in Nashville, TN.
PMA’s Silbermann sets retirement date, Burns’ role to expand in 2016
Bryan Silbermann, longtime chief executive officer of the Produce Marketing Association, will relinquish day-to-day operational responsibilities to association President Cathy Burns in 2016 and will officially retire from the organization in early 2017.
Customer top priority at Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley Potato Inc. in Aberdeen, ID, places a strong emphasis on keeping its customers supplied with quality potatoes throughout the year.
“We’ve brought the old-fashioned virtues of farming to the new technology of packaging and shipping, joining the best work of man with the best work of Mother Nature. It is our commitment to grow, pack and ship a high-quality product utilizing exceptional service,” the company’s website states.
L&M extends Mexican program
Raleigh, NC-based L&M Cos. is anticipating an exciting season with its Mexican crops this year. John McDaniel, sales and operations director for the company’s Nogales, AZ, operation, told The Produce News that the company’s numbers have increased.
“Not only that,” said McDaniel. “We have extended our season to include the Sonoran season on both ends.
“This year our showcase is our tomato category,” he continued. “Due to last year’s outstanding program we have increased this year’s by 40 percent.”
Market Fresh unveiling new line of tray vegetables
Market Fresh Produce, a distributor of a full line of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, avocados and peppers, based in Nixa, MO, announced a new product line of tray vegetables. This new line brings customers their favorite items prepackaged for the ultimate convenience.
Tesco reaches $12 million settlement for class action lawsuit
England-based retailer Tesco PLC has reached an agreement in principle to settle a $12 million class action lawsuit in New York arising out of the company's 2014 overstatement of its income.
The class action was against the company and certain of its former directors and alleged breaches of U.S. federal securities laws in connection with the overstatement of commercial income.
NatureFresh’s new Ohio greenhouse gets first plants
The reality of locally grown tomatoes from Ohio in the heart of winter took a gigantic step forward when greenhouse grower NatureFresh Farms announced that the first tomato plants for its new high-tech 15-acre Delta, OH, greenhouse had arrived on site and were planted, highlighting the completion of the construction of Phase I.
USDA imposes sanctions on three PACA violators
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act: New Farm Inc., Watermelons Inc., doing business as All Sweet Watermelons, and Farmers Fruit & Vegetable Co.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
E. coli outbreak prompts Taylor Farms recall
Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. of Tracy, CA, has issued a recall of several products because they may include celery that could contain E. coli 0157:H7. The company's celery and onion diced blend tested positive for E. coli and was used in the Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad that has been linked to a multi-state outbreak.
Fall demand strong for O.C. Schulz
Demand for red potatoes this fall was almost exceeding supply for O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., according to Andy Moquist, a salesman for the Crystal, ND-based firm.