Roundy’s Supermarkets flourishing in Illinois and Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE — “Consistency, quality and a wonderful eating experience” are the qualities demanded for retail stores united under Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. Steve Jarzombek, vice president of produce, noted that eating habits of Americans are changing toward a healthier lifestyle. With that, retail produce departments with “great quality day in and day out” will benefit, he said. “It’s exciting to see people eating arugula, kale and herbs. It’s a really fun time in this industry.”
The Fresh Wave rolling on into another New Jersey season
EGG HARBOR CITY, NJ — Warm weather in early May has brought on spring crops that were running a week or more late, which is music to the ears of many growers in South Jersey.
“We were about five to 10 days late, depending on the item, but the warm weather has brought on the crops, allowing us to start catching up,” said Tom Consalo of The Fresh Wave, the sales arm of Consalo Family Farms, based in Vineland, NJ.
Mack: Heat means sweet watermelons
Although Florida weather has been warmer than Arnold Mack, president and chief executive officer of McMelon Inc., would like to see it for watermelon production, he said the news isn’t all that bad.
“It’s been a little warm,” he told The Produce News in mid-May. “But I’ll take the heat as long as it doesn’t rain.” Heat means sweet when it comes to watermelon production, he commented.
Mexican mango crop could be record breaker
All indications are that the 2015 spring-summer mango season is shaping up to be a record breaker. The short supplies of 2014 are long forgotten as suppliers are reporting a flood of mangos in the marketplace and unbelievable volumes shipping each week.
Sizzling summer watermelon promotions kick into high gear
It’s pedal to the metal time now that the number four Watermelon.org Chevy is hitting the NASCAR circuit for the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Stephanie Barlow, NWPB director of public relations and social media, said racecar driver Ross Chastain — who kicked off the NASCAR schedule in Richmond, VA, Talladega, AL and Dover, DE — now has his sights set on the Daytona 500 on July 4. Chastain’s action-packed schedule in the Watermelon.org Chevy concludes at the Darlington Raceway in South Carolina on Labor Day.
Kneeland leaving Kings for new position with Ahold
Veteran produce retailer Paul Kneeland is leaving Kings Food Markets, based in Parsippany, NJ, to lead fresh food merchandising for a new division of Ahold USA called Fresh Formats LLC.
Kneeland, whose last day at Kings is May 29, told The Produce News that he would become vice president of fresh merchandising for the division. He said the first store, which has yet to be named, is scheduled to open in Massachusetts at the end of the summer. He declined to provide further information about the store, other than to say it is “a new concept.”
Arizona Leafy Greens’ Food Safety Training Program is a one-stop solution
The Arizona Food Safety Training Committee — otherwise known as the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement — is introducing for sale a comprehensive food-safety training kit.
Hugh Branch rebrands with new name and logo
The company formerly known as Hugh H. Branch, Inc. recently announced a new trade-facing name, Branch: A Family of Farms and its shortened version, Branch.
The South Bay, FL-based company makes this change in an effort to be more encompassing of its long-withstanding network of famers and tell their rich history. The company wishes to not just call out its founder, Hugh Branch, but also all the farmers that have made up this operation from the beginning.
Eastern Fresh Growers meeting growing demand for asparagus
Eastern Fresh Growers Inc., in Cedarville, NJ, is making major strides in its production and handling of locally grown asparagus.
Tom Sheppard, company president, told The Produce News the company has increased its asparagus production to 350 acres, as compared to about 100 acres a few years ago.
“Asparagus plants have a lifespan of 16 or 17 years,” explained Sheppard. “We’re still producing original acreage, but we’re also planting new varieties with different characteristics.”
Triple J plans to boost its sweet potato export sales over 2014 totals
The potato is Ireland’s staple crop, and at the beginning of the 20th century the Emerald Isle had the highest potato consumption per capita in the world. Now a sweet potato grower in Sims, NC, is selling those sweet potatoes to Ireland.
Kristi Hocutt, sales manager at Triple J Produce Inc. in Sims, has begun selling its sweet potatoes to Ireland, Holland and the United Kingdom.