Southern Produce Distributors continually growing in size and staff
The growing increase in demand for sweet potatoes has major producers making changes in many directions in order to keep up the stride to meet those demands.
Southern Produce Distributors Inc., headquartered in Faison, NC, is a perfect example of a major and always growing producer.
Stewart Precythe, president and chief executive officer, told The Produce News that the company has taken on a new deal in Hernandez, MS, in the past year.
Associated Potato Growers’ volume up
It will be hard to move potato prices upward before “all the doors are shut” and the storage facilities of the Red River Valley are full, said Paul Dolan, the manager of Associated Potato Growers Inc., located in Grand Forks, ND.
On Sept. 17 he noted “the market is weak on ‘a’s’. The demand has been so-so. The ‘b’ deal has been good. But number-one a and two-a sizes have had poor prices since Aug. 1.”
Markets expected to pick up as Red River Valley moves into potato harvesting season
“A very nice crop” is the simple description the Red River Valley’s 2015 red potato crop. Ted Kreis, marketing director of Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, said the potatoes coming from the red soil of the valley are “really good quality. We had plenty of rain this summer, which is a good thing.”
Whole Foods supplier summit invites local growers to meet with buyers
Whole Foods Market is inviting local growers and food artisans to meet with buyers for its newest store in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood, opening spring 2016. The Missouri Supplier Summit, hosted by Whole Foods Market Midwest, educates prospective new suppliers around the company’s quality standards and process for becoming a supplier.
Kroger announces partnership with Indiana Grown program
Today Kroger Co.’s Central Division President Jeff Burt hosted Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, announcing Kroger’s partnership with the highly successful Indiana Grown program at a Kroger store in Indianapolis.
Nathan Esformes, partner in Pacific Tomato Growers, dies at 83
One need not go far in the produce industry to find professionals who have lived their lives becoming successful in business, and also dedicating themselves to philanthropy, humanities and generosity.
Professional development is the key to industry growth
A new U.S. study of nearly 400 organizations reported investments in leadership development on the rise in 2015. The research, conducted by the global talent mobility consulting firm Lee Hecht Harrison, reports 54 percent of employers plan to increase leadership development investments this year.
Mango sales jump during NMB display contest
The National Mango Board announced the winners of the Mango Mania Display Contest and reported an outstanding 168 percent increase of mango volume sales amongst participating stores compared to the same time last year.
Chilean blueberries on the rise
During their recent annual meeting, the Chilean Blueberry Committee reported that production will continue to grow during the 2015-16 season, and global exports of fresh blueberries will be in the range of 218 million to 241 million pounds, resulting in an increase of between 7 and 19 percent over the previous season’s exports of 203 million pounds.
Esther Hernandez joins Veg-Fresh Farms' sales team
Corona, CA-based Veg-Fresh Farms recently added Esther Hernandez to its sales team.