Blues coming on strong at Dandrea Produce
Dandrea Produce Inc., in Vineland, NJ, has blueberries coming on June 15 to 16, and they are coming on strong. The company, a leading producer, importer, marketing firm and distributor of a full line of fruits and vegetables from around the world, has 15 growing partners in New Jersey producing blueberries.
Steve Dandrea, vice president of sales and marketing, told The Produce News that the crops this year look very good and are abundant in volumes.
“We’ve enjoyed great spring weather,” said Dandrea. “By June 18 or 19 we’ll be into very good vines.
Plans for Lakeside Organic Gardens’ new cooling and shipping facility now in the works
Last year, Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC, based in Watsonville, CA, purchased property to build new cooling and shipping facilities. Lindsey Roberts, marketing and communications director for the company, said it also purchased 200 acres of farmland that was threatened by developers.
“Plans for building our new facility are now in the works,” said Roberts. “As for the farm land, we’re committed to a three-year transition to certify the land as organic. We’re excited to grow our existing organic acreage in Watsonville.”
Benny Hall increases sales staff to aid in growth
In late May, Benny Hall Sr., owner of Benny Hall & Sons Inc. in Temperanceville, VA, told The Produce News that Mark Hodson was hired about one year ago as a new sales representative for the company.
Hodson has a strong and lengthy background in the produce industry.
New Mexico onion producers address ongoing water shortages
Onion producers in southern New Mexico are addressing water shortages with changing agricultural practices. “Because the drought has forced a big curtailment in water allotments to farmers in southern New Mexico’s Mesilla Valley, they’ve had to make up that shortfall with groundwater,” said Katie Goetz, public information officer for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. “That’s intensified the soil’s available salt.
Millennials: the veggie generation
Despite an increased consumer interest in health and nutrition, Americans are still ignoring one of the easiest ways to live a healthier lifestyle: eating their vegetables. However, a recent survey showed hope, finding that millennials (age 18-34) consume more vegetables than any other generation.
Cameron Skeen joins Murakami Produce
ONTARIO, OR — Two prominent names in the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion industry have joined forces with the announcement of Cameron Skeen’s new position at Murakami Produce Co.
Lineage names new CEO
Lineage Logistics LLC, a temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics company backed by Bay Grove Capital LLC, announced June 18 that logistics and transportation veteran W. Gregory Lehmkuhl will become its new chief executive officer, effective mid-July. Current CEO Bill Hendricksen will transition into the role of vice chairman at that time.
In the Trenches: Place summer fruit displays front and center
Whenever the beginning of summer rolls around and I start to see the first sign of peaches and nectarines arriving in the stores, it always reminds me of my early years of working part-time in the produce department after school.
Research finds increase in produce consumption
It has been a sore spot in the industry for many years that fresh produce consumption on a per-capita basis is just not increasing, despite many positive factors including the trend toward healthy eating.
At the United Fresh Produce Association Convention in Chicago in early June, a presentation on consumer trends by the well-known Nielsen Perishables Group seems to contradict that widely held belief.
Peruvian avocados coming on strong in 2015
LIMA, Peru — Since gaining access to the U.S. market four years ago, Peruvian avocados have made great strides in becoming an important source of the popular fruit.
“That first year it was a very humble beginning, with 32 million pounds,” said Xavier Equihua, president and chief executive officer of the Peruvian Avocado Commission, which is part of the federal promotion program. “This year, the latest projection we have is 150 million to 170 million pounds to the U.S. market.”