NatureFresh Farms rolls out Greenhouse Education Center to consumers
In an effort to educate consumers on how greenhouse produce is grown, NatureFresh Farms recently unveiled its custom designed mobile Greenhouse Education Center to hundreds of customers at Loblaw Cos.-owned ‘ZEHRS’ store in Cambridge, ON.
California's new potato deal off to early start
It was the earliest start of new potatoes from Kern County, CA, in memory, according to longtime sales representative and observer Tom Franconi of Mazzei-Franconi Co. LLC in Edison, CA.
“Typically, we would start around May 1,” he said, “but this year there were Kern County potatoes on the market on April 21.”
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers hires marketer liaison officer
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers hired Jacquie Trombley as marketer liaison officer, effective May 5. This newly established position will be the primary liaison between licensed marketers and the OGVG board and management.
United Fresh names Retail Produce Manager Award honorees
Marking its 11th year of recognizing exceptional retail produce managers, United Fresh announced the honorees of its 2015 Retail Produce Manager Awards program. The group of 25 produce managers represents 23 different supermarket banners, commissaries and independent retail stores in 19 states. They will be the honored guests at the United Fresh 2015 convention and trade show, June 8-10 in Chicago.
Sweet potato commission head retiring after two decades at helm
BENSON, NC — In two decades at the helm of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission, here, Sue Johnson-Langdon has seen three major changes in the state sweet potato industry: seed quality, value-added products and integrated operations.
Gourmet Trading is cautiously optimistic about water conditions in California
Gourmet Trading Co. handles organic and conventional blueberries, with supplies produced in California, Argentina, Chile, Oregon, Canada, Florida, Georgia, Peru, North Carolina and New Jersey.
Scott Hulsey vice president of procurement for the company, said, “We have an additional 50 acres of blueberries being planted in California currently. Gourmet Trading’s programs are also growing in the Southeast.”
Hulsey also addressed the current drought in California.
Ohio weather smiles on 2015 vegetables
Growers in Ohio indicate that this has been an ideal spring for vegetable production.
“We have cabbage in the ground and the cukes are seeded,” Kirk Holthouse, a partner and sales manager for Holthouse Farms of Ohio Inc., which is based in Willard, OH, said May 5. “The first squash will be seeded this week. The plastic is down and the first Bell peppers will go out [into the field] on May 10.”
He explained that Bell pepper planting trails cabbage because cabbage is more cold-resistant. “The moisture has been right,” he noted.
Holtzinger Fruit names new president
Holtzinger Fruit Co., based in Yakima, WA, has hired Dave Henze as its new president. Henze comes to Holtzinger with a unique background with over 18 years of experience in the food business.
Most recently, Henze was in charge of sales and marketing for Idahoan Foods' foodservice division. Prior to that, he was general manager for Simmisco Foods — an avocado joint venture between Mission Produce and the JR Simplot Co.
Weis names new VP to oversee fresh merchandising and marketing
Weis Markets announced Richard Gunn has joined the company as senior vice president of merchandising and marketing. In this position, he will oversee the company’s fresh and center store merchandising, sales and procurement, marketing and advertising.