D'Arrigo New York's new website ‘celebrates fresh’
The new D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York website — darrigony.com — has plenty of information about this wholesaler located on the Hunt’s Point Produce Market in the Bronx, NY.
Planning under way for South African summer citrus season
The Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum conducted its annual planning sessions for the summer citrus export program to the United States, with much of the discussion linked to the importance of the African Growth & Opportunity Act.
Village Farms launches two new tomato products
Village Farms International Inc., headquartered in Heathrow, FL, is a pioneer in exclusive and uniquely wonderful greenhouse-grown tomato, pepper and cucumber varieties.
The company recently launched its “Cabernet Estate Reserve,” an exclusive little deep flavored cherry tomato, as well as “Cherry no.9,” a sweeter than sweet cherry tomato. Both are new to Village Farms’ mix.
Former Bi-Lo CEO heading newly acquired Fiesta Mart
Fiesta Mart LLC, one of the larger international and Hispanic grocery chains in the United States, has been acquired by ACON Investments LLC and its affiliates. ACON has hired Michael Byars as president and chief executive officer of Fiesta, which has 60 stores throughout Texas.
Byars has extensive experience in the grocery industry, most recently as president and CEO of BI-LO LLC. Previously, he was president and CEO of Minyard Food Stores Inc. and served in a number of senior management positions during his 25 years with the Delhaize Group.
Stephen Hohenrieder named general partner at Farmland LP
San Francisco-based Farmland LP, a private equity firm that launched the nation’s first farmland REIT focused on sustainable agriculture, announced April 16 the addition of Stephen Hohenrieder as general partner.
Myrick has sights set on growth
It’s not just great produce and great business relationships that are growing at Myrick Produce this season. The sales team is also growing.
Jimmy Myrick, vice president of Edward L. Myrick Produce in Pompano Beach, FL, said the company added Dan Lapinskas at the beginning of April.
“We are growing and felt we could use another salesman to help to market and move the product,” said Myrick.
Changes and progressions continue as the PWPM moves toward its fourth year
With three full years under its belt and heading toward the fourth anniversary in June, tenants at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market remain extremely positive about their highly technical, cutting-edge facility, which is claimed to be the most advanced wholesale terminal produce center in the world.
Visitors to the facility come from around the globe to see for themselves how it was designed and developed to serve the needs of suppliers, tenants and customers alike, and in ways that few other facilities are able.
Veg prices climbing as crops in short supply
It is a simple case of demand exceeds supply, according to members of the California grower-shipper community.
“We have a very, very, very active market across the board,” said Matt Seeley, vice president of marketing for The Nunes Co., based in Salinas, CA. “We were ahead of schedule on just about everything, which has finally created gaps. As such, prices are very, very strong.”
Seeley said a quick look at the company’s sales board shows that just about every vegetable crop with a market in the high teens, the $20s, and even some crops are in the $30s.
Desert melon production gets early start
With the first melons being picked from the California desert on April 28, Barry Zwillinger told The Produce News that it is the "earliest and best melon crop in 30 years of doing this.”
Zwillinger, who is the owner of Legend Produce, which has operations in both California and Arizona, said what appears to be a great season for his firm is the result of perfect growing weather and the company’s exclusive deal to market the Origami variety of cantaloupe.
Drought conditions persist in Colorado
Colorado State Engineer Dick Wolfe said officials continue to monitor Colorado snowpack and water levels. “In general, the reservoirs are in good shape,” he told The Produce News in mid-April. “But drought conditions still persist. We started into the winter with good snowpack.