Higueral waiting out midst of mango deal
RIO RICO, AZ — In mid-May, as the Mexican mango deal made its steady seasonal northward progression toward Nayarit, the mango market fell to as low as $2 or $3 a box for small-sized fruit, said Edgar Duarte, a partner in Higueral Produce Inc., located here. Larger sizes were $4 to $5 a box.
Winter weather produces a good Jersey peach and blueberry crop for Sunny Valley
Sunny Valley International, headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, is anticipating good peach and blueberry crops out of New Jersey this season.
Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations, said the New Jersey blueberry crop is expected to have a normal start this year.
“Temperatures have been on the warm side the last couple of weeks,” Von Rohr said on May 12. “Our projected start is June 19. We ramp up quickly with Duke variety blues and move into the Bluecrop variety for the second half of our season.”
Kingston sells Florida cold-storage facility
Kingston & Associates Marketing LLC, based in Idaho Falls, ID, announced the sale of Kingston Cross Dock International Inc. to American Consolidation & Logistics, a family-owned business that provides handling and storage of perishables and consolidation services to customers in the United States, Caribbean, Central America and South America.
Sunny Valley’s ‘Jersey Fruit’ blueberries expected to be excellent again this season
Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations for Sunny Valley International, said the New Jersey’s blueberry crop is on track for a great season.
The company, headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, has enjoyed favorable weather this spring for producing an excellent and full crop.
“Timing of movements out of New Jersey appears to be heading toward a normal start,” said Von Rohr. “And indications are that growers will have a good supply of labor for harvesting.”
Pleasantdale’s John Galaida is confident about Jersey blueberries
HAMMONTON, NJ — It’s no secret that growers always keep an eye on the weather. John Galaida, general manager of Pleasantdale Farms, is no exception. In looking at the upcoming New Jersey blueberry season, he took a look back at the 2014-15 winter and the impact it might have.
“It was a colder than average winter,” he told The Produce News Wednesday morning, May 27 at his office here in southern New Jersey.
Diamond’s Tim Wetherbee anxious to start New Jersey blueberries
HAMMONTON, NJ — Every year around the end of May, longtime blueberry industry veteran Tim Wetherbee can’t wait to start the New Jersey blueberry season. The winter is long gone, the weather gets warm, and the berries are getting bigger on the bushes.
“This time of the year is just anxiety and speculation,” Wetherbee, sales manager at Diamond Blueberry Inc., told The Produce News Wednesday morning, May 27. “I wish I was picking today. When you get this close, you want to get going.”
Ahold USA names president and general manager of Peapod
Ahold USA has appointed Jennifer Carr-Smith to president and general manager of Peapod, effective June 15. Carr-Smith replaces Andrew Parkinson who has been appointed to a newly established advisory role.
PAC christens summer promotions with breakfast aboard the USS Cole
The Peruvian Avocado Commission has a full slate of promotions planned to help consumers associate Peru as the summer avocado source.
The summer promotions kicked off in early May with a Peruvian-avocado themed breakfast for the men and women who serve on the U.S. Navy’s USS Cole, a first of its kind event for the avocado industry, according to the PAC.
Big Y focused on locally grown produce, plants and flowers
Big Y, which sells locally grown produce from the spring into the fall as it follows the growing season in southern New England, has begun selling the first native produce of the season.
With stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, it is committed to supporting as many local growers as possible within its 63 stores.
California Giant’s new foundation seeks to set standard for corporate social responsibility
After decades of giving back to the community as part of its corporate culture, the owners of California Giant Berry Farms, a leading provider of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, have established a 501(c)3 non-profit to formalize the California Giant Foundation, which supports local organizations by donating well over $100,000 annually to charitable causes.