D’Arrigo Bros. continually expands on its full line of produce
In early 2014, D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York Inc., located at the Hunts Point Produce Market, began a new tropical fruit and vegetable program. Just one year later, Vice President, Matthew D’Arrigo, told The Produce News that it’s doing very well and is now part of the company’s business along with its full line of fresh Eastern, Western and Texas vegetables and fruits.
Quality Control App new product from Produce Pro Software
Produce Pro Software, a fully integrated, customizable software solutions, training and strategic business consulting firm based in Woodridge, IL, is releasing its brand-new Quality Control App, which allows users to perform product inspections, capture product images, and generate inspection reports, all without extra steps or messy paperwork.
“No more taking pictures on their phones or digital cameras and uploading to emails. The app does it all for them,” said Courtney Heim, Produce Pro marketing representative.
Early start for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers WA stone fruit
It’s “game on!” for stone fruit in the Pacific Northwest, much to the delight of consumers, according to Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers.
Thanks to a mild winter and spring, fruit has come on a week to 10 days earlier than normal this year, and Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, with both conventional and organic tree-ripened fruit in good supplies, will ship its first loads of organic apricots June 1.
The certified apricots will ship through July 15, and conventional cots will ship June 10 through July 20, said OSRG Marketing Director Scott Marboe.
Volatile Western vegetable market might be changing again
With some warmer weather in the forecast as California steamed toward early June, vegetable supplies might start to pick up, which could mean more predictability in the marketplace.
Though that could be the case, some are not so quick to concede that, as predictability has been the enemy for the past few months.
Mark McBride, who sits on the sales desk for Coastline in Salinas, CA, and is a longtime veteran in the Western vegetable industry, told The Produce News May 27 that he is not ready to assume that normal weather and production patterns will prevail.
FDA releases inspection report on Listeria finding at Bidart Bros. packing plant
WASHINGTON — The Food & Drug Administration has released the 483 inspection report on the Bidart Bros. apple packing plant, where inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes on food contact surfaces, linking the facility to a Listeria outbreak tied to its caramel apples
Health officials believe the company’s apples caused at least 35 people to become infected with the pathogen that resulted in 34 hospitalizations and seven deaths.
Naturipe to increase market share in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia
Naturipe Farms partner Munger Farms has announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with Golden Eagle Farm Group, owned by the Aquilini family in Vancouver, BC. The Aquilini family has several diverse farming operations and is a significant grower of blueberries in British Columbia and Washington state.
“This addition will complement our current production from Naturipe Farms partner MBG Marketing’s, premier grower base in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon,” Brian Bocock, vice president of product management for Naturipe Farms, said in a press release.
Record-breaking attendance at Minneapolis Art in Bloom
MINNEAPOLIS — For the 32nd year, Friends of the Institute presented Art in Bloom at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, here, April 30-May 3 and it had a record-breaking attendance of over 41,000 visitors. More than 150 fresh floral arrangements by 160 pedestal artists/designers and 19 commercial florists interpreted diverse works of timeless art in the museum’s collection.
Protea conference set for Australia
New Ornamental Crops & The eighth International Symposium on New Ornamental Crops, the 12th International Protea Research Symposium and the 17th International Protea Association Conference will be held Aug. 20-24 in Perth, Australia, according to a news release.
Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. appoints new executive director
The board of directors of Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. announced in a news release the appointment of Andrew Morse as executive director effective June 28, 2015.