Red Sun Farms sustainable organic grape tomato packaging
Concurring with many other produce professionals, Jim DiMenna, president of Red Sun Farms, headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, said the location and timing of the New York Produce Show is attractive to both vendors and buyers.
“The holidays in New York are a great incentive for attendees,” said DiMenna. “The show is unique to our industry and it provides us with an intimate setting to connect with new and current partners.”
Rice Fruit to showcase new strains of the most popular apple varieties
Few things shine as brightly as fresh apples in autumn and winter, and Rice Fruit Co. in Gardners, PA, has a crop that is in prime condition for the coming year.
John Rice, vice president, told The Produce News that the company has enjoyed a good harvest, which wrapped up in late October.
“We enjoyed a fairly typical growing season,” said Rice. “A cool, dry and sunny October allowed us to get through the harvest nicely and in good order.
NatureSweet unveils limited-edition winter packaging
NatureSweet, a leading grower of branded premium tomatoes, has revealed its limited-edition seasonal packaging featuring a cheerful snowflake pattern and festive gold foil labels for Cherubs, Glorys and SunBursts products.
PMA: Millennial consumer trends affecting floral industry strategies
You don’t have to be a millennial to appreciate the impact the demographic’s consumer preferences and purchasing decisions are having on our industry’s products and channels. Millennials’ demands are ever evolving. So it is in the interest of all of us, as professionals in the floral industry, to identify those preferences and adapt or create marketing strategies to cater to them to drive consumer demand.
PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta impresses and satisfies floral attendees
ATLANTA — As I entered the huge World Congress Center, here, I was swept up into a sea of humanity flowing down escalators to the exposition hall of the 2016 PMA Fresh Summit. It reminded me of Black Friday shopping, when the crowd surrounding you determines the direction of your journey. After entering the gigantic exhibit hall, the crowd spread out in all directions to visit the 1,060 exhibitors covering 267,000 square feet of floor space. Like an open-air market, the scene was bright, noisy and filled with festive energy.
Levy wins 2015 LTK award
Leonard Levy, former president at Hillcrest Gardens in Paramus, NJ, was honored with the Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award at the annual meeting of the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association in Miami, according to a news release. Levy served as president at WF&FSA from 1995-96.
The LTK award is the highest honor given annually by WF&FSA and it is presented to one individual who meets three criteria:
• Dedication, ability and initiative to a degree that sets him or her apart from contemporaries.
WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference serves up inspiration and optimism
The Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association shattered another attendance record at its 2015 Floral Distribution Conference. More than 780 wholesalers, suppliers, growers, importers and shippers descended on Miami for this annual event in mid-October. This conference continues to grow and break new records each year.
Robert Shibata taking the helm as new president at WF&FSA
Robert Shibata, president at Mt. Eden Floral Co. in San Jose, CA, assumed the presidency at the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, following the term of Alan Tanouye, general manager at Floralife, according to a news release.
Floral veteran Bob Friese inducted into Michigan Floral Foundation Hall of Fame
Bob Friese was inducted into the Michigan Floral Foundation’s Hall of Fame at a dinner held at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, according to a news release. Friese has shared his knowledge and his artistry and his support of the floral industry for over 50 years.
Early in his career, Friese began teaching and mentoring students at his floral school in Chicago. He took an active part in the Great Lakes Floral Expo, teaching classes at the conference and at his home studio on behalf of the Michigan Floral Association.
AmericanHort’s NextLevel offers opportunity to work on business
AmericanHort invites high-level professionals to attend NextLevel in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Jan. 18-20, in order to offer owners, managers, and emerging leaders a fresh perspective on their businesses. NextLevel is an opportunity to focus on company culture, vision, marketing strategy, succession planning, and more, according to a news release.