RPE to launch new potato varieties
RPE Inc. has announced the addition of six new varieties of potatoes being released this fall. With four additions to RPE’s core commodity brand, Old Oak Farms and two additions to their line of Tasteful Selections specialty potatoes, these new varieties will be transforming meals with unique appearances and robust flavors.
Kroger cites food-safety risk as reason for pulling caramel apples
The Kroger Co. announced its decision to withdraw from the sale of unrefrigerated caramel apples that have been pierced with dipping sticks due to new scientific evidence that the product, if left unrefrigerated, may be at risk for Listeriosis.
Spooky food displays create Halloween sales opportunities
Frieda’s Inc., based in Los Alamitos, CA, is encouraging retailers to draw shoppers away from the candy aisle and into the produce department for Halloween-themed displays that are sure to increase fruit and vegetable sales.
Associated Wholesale Grocers announces organizational changes
Associated Wholesale Grocers recently announced that effective Dec. 7, Steve Arnold, executive vice president of merchandising, will transfer to the Oklahoma City division to the position of senior vice president, division manager reporting to Jeff Pedersen, executive vice president division operations.
Pre-PMA Spotlight on Atlanta — The Oakwood Cafe
FOREST PARK, GA — Congressmen, athletes and entertainers — not to mention a whole lot of produce people — have been flocking to the Oakwood Cafe on the Atlanta State Farmers Market for years for the freshest in authentic downhome Southern fare.
Western veg prices rising with tighter supplies expected in November
An early-October supply-exceeds-demand situation for Iceberg lettuce and other vegetable crops has righted itself and western grower-shippers are expecting shorter supplies and higher prices as the Thanksgiving holiday pull begins to materialize.
Already on Oct. 14, cauliflower was selling in the high teens while broccoli was in the mid-teens and Iceberg lettuce was coming off its summer lows in the $11 range.
Veteran sweet potato grower Vick: 2015 harvest down in yield, high in quality
WILSON, NC — Jerome Vick, head of Vick Family Farms here, has been farming for 40 years, and growing sweet potatoes for 30 years. Vick’s practiced eye noted that a dry spell in the Wilson area in August, beginning the first 10 days after transplanting vines to the field, meant a 50 percent reduction in yield for the sweet potato crop here.
ICP transitioning to Texas
International Citrus and Produce is a very apt moniker for the Burlingame, CA, company headed by industry veteran J.B. Cutsinger, who has been selling citrus for more than 35 years.
His son Jim Cutsinger, who has been in the business for more than a decade, told The Produce News in mid-September that a shift in the company’s focus toward Texas was about to take place as it always does at this time of year. “A very large percentage of what we sell (on an annual basis) comes from Texas,” he said.
Oppy’s Anderson honored for entrepreneurship
John Anderson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Oppenheimer Group, has been named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific 2015.
Sunkist gearing up for peak of Meyer lemon season
Although Meyer lemons are grown year round, a new crop began this month and Sunkist is aggressively marketing this citrus item to the retail community.