Bland Farms’ Peruvian deal continues to grow as industry matures with boosts from technology
Delbert Bland has been around onions his entire life. He comes from a long line of farmers and it’s no surprise he cut his teeth behind the wheel of a tractor in Glennville, GA. And while Bland has made his mark as a first-rate marketer, he remains a farmer at heart.
New facility in South America makes Shuman Produce’s Peruvian onion deal even sweeter
Almost 20 years ago, John Shuman realized consumers were clamoring for sweet onions long after the Vidalia crop was gone. Peru provided a great sweet onion alternative and Shuman Produce Inc. in Reidsville, GA, jumped into the game.
“Vidalia and Peruvian sweet onions share the flat, granex shape consumers immediately relate to the sweet, mild flavor of a sweet onion,” Shuman said. “Peruvian sweet onions present our retail partners with the opportunity to maintain a consistent sweet onion program that meets consumer demand all year long.
Riveridge Produce Marketing adds to staff
SPARTA, MI — Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc. has had several recent additions and changes to its staff.
Don Armock, owner of Riveridge, said his daughter, Kari Soldaat, has brought 15 years of experience in consumer goods marketing experience to become the firm’s sales manager.
On July 27, Tom Curtis joined the sales desk with Mitch Brinks, who came from Jack Brown Produce in Sparta in the summer of 2014. For a short time Curtis worked for a Michigan vegetable shipper after a long sales experience with apple shipper Heeren Bros. LLC in nearby Comstock Park, MI.
Riveridge’s Armock comments on changing apple trade
SPARTA, MI — When growers pay $30,000 per acre to plant a new apple variety, “that is a lot of money if that variety doesn’t make it commercially,” said Don Armock, the owner of Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc. “That is a pretty significant cost. You’ve got to be in the game” when choosing what varieties to plant. A modern orchard will yield about 1,500 bushels per acre in a normal production year.
Adding to the interest of the apple business is “that there are all different kinds of consumers,” he said.
Andronico’s bringing health and fitness to Bay Area community
Andronico’s will launch FitMarket, a new healthy living community program, in its five Bay Area stores with a kick-off event Aug. 22 at its store on Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley, CA.
All Fresh is going strong
DEERFIELD, MI — Applewood Orchards Inc., located here, is a partner with Market Fresh in the apple-marketing agency All Fresh GPS, which has a sales office in Sparta, MI. Market Fresh is owned by Heeren Bros. LLC, previously known as Heeren Bros. Inc.
While Market Fresh owns a vegetable sales and shipping company, the apple side of the business only sells apples through All Fresh.
Kropf pleased by 2015 apple prospects
“We’re coming into a pretty good year. Everything is great” at Core Farms LLC, said the firm’s owner, Roger Kropf.
“The growers are all fired up,” he said. “They all want to get the money flowing. It seems there is a good atmosphere in the air.”
Michigan apples looking good
Everything is looking good for the 2015 Michigan apple crop, said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, based in Lansing, MI.
Smith noted that an Aug. 2 hailstorm struck northwest Michigan and there was “hit and miss” damage there for apple growers. Some had no damage “and others were hit pretty badly.” Northwest Michigan does not produce a major portion of the state’s apple crop.
Smith said aside from the Aug. 2 event, the weather has been cooperating for a strong Michigan apple crop.
Strong apple season for Jack Brown
SPARTA, MI — The quality of the 2015 Michigan apple crop to be packed this fall by Jack Brown Produce Inc. “is excellent,” according to John Schaefer Jr., president of the firm.
Over the last couple of years, Jack Brown has been steadily upgrading its packing facilities to best serve its growers and the firm’s customers. “Everything we have here is state-of-the-art technology. Or, if it’s not, we will upgrade it this fall,” Schaefer told The Produce News.
Jack Brown changes sales staff
SPARTA, MI — In the last year, the domestic and international sales desk of Jack Brown Produce Inc. has changed, according to John Schaefer Jr., president of the firm.
Last August, Tom Labbe took on domestic sales for Jack Brown, and in September 2014, Maria Rivera became the firm’s international sales manager.