Maurice A. Auerbach showcasing organic packages of garlic, shallots and ginger
Maurice A. Auerbach in Secaucus, NJ, a leading distributor of specialty items, has been a devotee of the New York Produce Show since it began in 2010.
Bruce Klein, director of marketing, said the company has a great location at its booth, No. 401, at the show.
“The response from all sectors of the trade to this show has always been outstanding, and it just grows larger every year,” said Klein.
New York Apple Sales exclusive marketer of Honeycrisp apples from Scotian Gold Cooperative
For fortunate companies like New York Apple Sales, headquartered in Castleton, NY, the New York Produce Show and Conference is very accessible by train.
“We are lucky this way,” said Kaari Stannard, company president. “The show provides us with an excellent opportunity to meet up with retail chains and wholesalers. In addition, the breakout sessions are very informative and beneficial to attend.”
The company has exhibited at the New York Produce Show since its inception in 2010. This year it will be at booth No. 563.
Honeycrisp apples still on the rise at retail
Retail prices for the consumer favorite Honeycrisp apple rose in October 2015, yet the total dollars apples contributed to the produce department fell by half a percent when comparing the same four weeks in 2014. These and other category facts are illustrated in the latest Stemilt-O-Graphic following the release of October retail scan data by Nielsen Perishables Group late last week.
Customer is king at Sy Katz
Customers of Sy Katz Produce Inc., headquartered in Boone, NC, can always rely on delivery of top-quality produce fresh from the field.
“We have a glorious history and impeccable customer service,” President Owen Margolis told The Produce News. The company has built a solid business foundation based upon its relationships with its growing partners and ability to maintain a strong supply chain throughout the year.
Village Farms launching local Florida market with certified organic products
Heathrow, FL-based Village Farms International Inc. is a leading producer, marketer and distributor of premium-quality greenhouse-grown vegetables with numerous growing and distribution operations across North America and beyond.
Helen L. Aquino, director of brand marketing and communications for Village Farms, said the company is pleased to announce its introduction of certified organic products into the local Florida market.
Florida crop from Northampton Growers looking upbeat this year
In late October, Calvert Cullen, president of Cheriton, VA-based Northampton Growers, a leading grower and shipper of a wide variety of produce, said that things in Florida were looking upbeat.
“Our schedule looks good at this point,” said Cullen. “We don’t really wrap up with cucumbers, squashes, peppers and other items in Florida throughout the winter. We move from one growing region to another, providing seamless supplies. Eventually volumes will start to drop off and at that point we’ll be moving northward.”
Weisinger looking for flat tomato market to pick up
ChuckWeisinger, president of Weis-Buy Inc., provided The Produce News with some insights into the tomato market as of Nov. 10.
“It seems that heavy rains on early November tomatoes in southwest Florida affected the size of mature green tomatoes,” Weisinger stated. “The size seemed to be smaller than anticipated with the start of harvesting on Nov. 5.”
Miami location helps Atlanta’s Nickey Gregory Co. cover the Southeast with overnight service
The Nickey Gregory Co. was founded on the Atlanta State Farmers Market 15 years ago and has since become one of the Southeast’s premier distributors. A second location in Miami opened in 2011 has been a major contributor to that success, giving the company easy access to and control over a steady supply of staples and specialty items that makes sure the Atlanta HQ never comes up short.
Cabrera has broad-based industry vantage point
Omar Cabrera has worked in the Nogales produce industry for 25 years. Over the years, he has worked with a broad base of the industry.
Cabrera owns two firms: Agri Packing Supply, Inc., which provides packing supplies to Mexican growers, and Agri Packing Distributors, which is a cold storage and logistics company. Through this, Cabrera said he works with virtually all of the Nogales produce distributors.
Beyond four Nogales cold warehouses, Cabrera also owns a San Diego facility and will be opening a cold storage in South Texas this spring.
TruFresh offering full line of organic vegetables
A complete line of organic vegetables is on tap this year for TruFresh.
Rafael Roiz, the chief executive officer and a partner in TruFresh, said that the firm will increase its organic packages to 800,000 this Nogales season. In 2014-15, the firm shipped 150,000 organic packages.