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.
Wayne E. Bailey says sweet potato use is across the board today and growing strong
Mother Nature continually sends the message out to produce growers about who’s in charge. The recent hot and dry weather in North Carolina, a good example, has slowed harvests by a week to 10 days.
George Wooten, president of Wayne E. Bailey, a leading producer of sweet potatoes in Chadburn, NC, told The Produce News that he believes the total volume once harvesting is completed by Nov. 5 will be slightly less or about the same as a year ago.
Nature’s Way Farms expanding again, doubling down on sweet potatoes
FAISON, NC— Nature’s Way Farms here is expanding again, doubling down on sweet potatoes with a $2.5 million new facility with three all-new packing lines. The new four-room facility, located next to the company’s headquarters and current storage and packing building, will have 120,000 square feet of packing and sweet potato storage space.
36 more A&P stores sold, 72 on auction block this week
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. held an auction for certain stores on Oct. 1 and 2. The auction resulted in 36 stores receiving successful bids from a variety of companies, including Key Food Stores Co-Operative Inc., Wakefern Food Corp. and Stop & Shop.
Sprouts Farmers Market adding 12 locations in 2016
Sprouts Farmers Market announced plans to add 12 locations to its growing roster of healthy grocery stores in early 2016. This is in addition to the 27 new stores Sprouts will have opened by the end of 2015, at which point it will have expanded into three new states: Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee.
CMI hosts national food writers summit for Ambrosia apple education
Ambrosia orchard tour participants view the McDougall family’s newest investment, Legacy Orchards in East Wenatchee, WA.
Green Thumb celebrates 20 years in produce distribution
When they started selling tomatoes from a horse-drawn cart in Yucaipa, CA, more than two decades ago, Lonny and Caryn Saverino knew they were on to something big. But little did they know they were on to something huge.
Pacific Tomato Growers gets new name, adds to product line
Fourth-generation, family-owned Pacific Tomato Growers announced the company’s newly established brands — “Sunripe Certified Brands” in the United States and “Suncoast Certified Brands” in Canada — to emphasize the company’s commitment to leading and serving as stewards for progress in the agriculture industry.