Robert Weis stepping down as chairman after 69 years with company
Weis Markets Inc. announced that Robert F. Weis, currently the chairman of the board, will not stand for re-election to its board of directors at the company's annual meeting of shareholders, scheduled to be held April 23. He indicated that his decision not to stand for re-election was motivated by his desire to focus on his health.
NewStar announces personnel moves
NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, based in Salinas, CA, has promoted Mark Solis to inside sales manager and Antonio Ojeda to commodity group manager, two newly created positions within the company.
Solis has extensive experience in commodity management, transportation and customer service, having worked for Tanimura & Antle, Church Bros. and NewStar. He was most recently an inside sales executive with NewStar. In his new role, he will be responsible for the day-to-day sales activities within NewStar.
Omega shipping honeydew
RIO RICO, AZ — Omega Produce Co. Inc. is exporting Mexican honeydew throughout North America and to Japan in April and May.
Company founder George Gotsis said in mid-March that the company will be shipping five- and six-count honeydew packages under the “Omega” brand.
“The quality was very good last year and it should get better this year,” Gotsis said
The melons will be coming out of Hermosillo, Sonora.
Kid’s Choice shipping season to begin early
Perfect storm conditions during the current growing season will translate to quality watermelon volume for Kid’s Choice Fresh Produce Inc. “Promotions are running strong,” owner and President Tom Glenos told The Produce News. “Orders are coming in quickly.”
Sykes has watermelon deal for spring
The Sykes Co. will have a fast Mexican watermelon deal this spring.
Bill Sykes said his firm, which is based in Rio Rico, AZ, is shipping 90 acres of seedless watermelons out of Hermosillo from April 6 until May 15.
“We’ve had good weather and they’re a little early,” said Sykes, who started the firm in 1978.
The deal “is always shipped in bins,” he noted.
USDA cites Al Harrison Co. Distributors for PACA violations
Al Harrison Co. Distributors, based in Nogales, AZ, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failure to pay for nearly $700,000 worth of produce, but its principal said he plans to return to the industry once the legal matters are satisfied.
According to an April 9 statement from the USDA, the firm failed to pay $690,537 to 12 sellers for 104 lots of produce, in violation of PACA law.
Deardorff Family Farms adds to its lineup
Deardorff Family Farms is adding kales and collards (in all colors) as well as butter lettuces to its lineup of organic items currently being offered from the Salinas Valley. The new program adds to an already strong partnership between the Deardorff family and the Bunn family — both are fourth-generation growers with more than 70 years of farming experience. The full lineup of items now includes Romaine, green leaf, red leaf, red butter lettuce, green butter lettuce, celery, cauliflower, broccoli and the new bunching items.
Vidalia onion crop straight from the fields
VIDALIA, GA — Short supplies of sweet onions from elsewhere have the market primed for the annual Vidalia onion crop, which by all accounts is shaping up to be the best in four years.
Potandon bringing back display shipper program
Potandon Produce LLC, a leading potato and onion marketer based in Idaho Falls, ID, is reprising its successful and popular mini potato display shipper for the 2015 spring-summer selling season.
Tomato Specialists to unveil all-cause marketing campaign
Think pink, think empowerment. Then visit Tomato Specialists Inc. at Booth No. 205 at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show.
The company, headquartered in Lehigh Acres, FL, will unveil its new all-cause marketing campaign and creation of its sister/memorial company, J.V. Steele Inc., at this year’s CPMA show. The product specially tied to rollout is pink onions, which the company is importing from England.