Watermelon serves up new website ahead of summer
The National Watermelon Promotion Board has launched the new and improved Watermelon.org website, which was designed to be responsive to make it more user-friendly when viewed on a tablet or smartphone.
Supreme Court could be final arbiter in California labor dispute
A California appeals court recently handed Reedley, CA-based Gerawan Farming a favorable decision in its ongoing battle with the United Farm Workers, meaning the issues at hand may just end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This was a big win,” said Ron Barsamian of Barsamian & Moody, who was co-counsel on the case with David Schwarz of Irell & Manella, a Los Angeles firm. “Though it is only one victory and it will almost certainly be appealed to the California Supreme Court.”
Ocean Mist-Lakeside alliance extends organic offerings
Ocean Mist Farms and Lakeside Organic Gardens formed a strategic alliance to grow for one another and offer their customers wider organic product lines.
NatureSweet teams with Weber Grills for Glorys of Grilling contest
NatureSweet Ltd., a leading grower of premium branded fresh tomatoes based in San Antonio, TX, will join forces once again with Weber Grills to host a summer grilling sweepstakes.
Dan Tobin joins Country Fresh Mushroom Co. team
On May 15, Country Fresh Mushroom Co., headquartered in Avondale, PA, announced the addition of Dan Tobin as the director of warehouse operations at the company’s Toughkenamon, PA, facility.
California fig crops looks great, says Western Fresh Marketing exec
In early May, George Kragie had surveyed the groves, was selling the first fruit of the season and packing his bags to make his annual trek to the Midwest when he talked about this year’s California fig crop.
“We have started in the desert and our breva crop is light, but the Brown Turkeys (fig variety) look phenomenal,” he said. “We have had no weather or water problems and the crop looks great.”
A.J. Trucco’s ‘TruStar’ line of branded products moving strongly
Something great is always happening at A.J. Trucco, located on the Hunts Point Terminal Market, and this season is no different. The company’s long tradition of importing and distributing Italian chestnuts continues, as does its widely expanded commodity line that includes kiwifruit, citrus, blueberries, grapes, garlic and figs, a wide array of dried fruits and nuts and an organic line.
Northwest cherries up to two weeks early
For the most part, Mother Nature has cherry picked just the kind of conditions that growers in the Pacific Northwest need to produce the quality cherry crop the region is known for. In 2015, these conditions will translate to good volume, impressive size and high quality.
Northern California site of FPFC Golf Tourney
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its annual Northern California Golf Tournament at picturesque Callipe Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton, CA, on May 15. The scramble format resulted in the foursome of Mike Casazza of Apio/Eat Smart, Jeff Kyer of InterLink Marketing Group, Mil Mijanovic of Safeway/Albertsons and Dave Moore of Earthbound Farm winning the event.
Bi-Lo rebranded as Southeastern Grocers
Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie, has officially changed its name to Southeastern Grocers, effective May 18.