Veg-Fresh Farms hires new vegetable commodity manager
Veg-Fresh Farms has hired Barry Parisotto as a vegetable commodity manager. For more than 18 years, Parisotto has served the fresh produce industry in a multitude of capacities, including sales, procurement, retail and organics.
Spring means watermelon, sweet corn and asparagus for Scotlynn Sweet-Pac Growers
As consumers begin bursting from their doors to enjoy the warm spring air, produce companies that produce and ship typical spring and summer crops will inevitably feel a strong push.
Scotlynn Sweet-Pac Growers LLC produces sweet corn, and it is a good example of a company that will likely reap the benefits of spring following the long, extremely cold winter storms that — one after another — swept across the nation.
Mastronardi Produce/Sunset ready to launch new items at the CPMA show
Mastronardi Produce/Sunset, headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, is strongly promoting its “Campari” and “Y.E.L.O.” tomato campaign. The company also plans to launch some exciting programs around these products at the CPMA Convention & Trade Show, April 15-17 in Montreal.
AFM announces brand spokeswoman with Hispanic promotion launch
Avocados from Mexico has named Maggie Jiménez as brand spokeswoman in its first ever Hispanic campaign, “Echale.” Jiménez is a professional host, celebrity chef, lifestyle expert and mother, regularly hosting a cooking segment on Univision’s “Despierta América.”
Diaz Foods opens state-of-the-art distribution center in Virginia
Diaz Foods, one of the larger distributors of Hispanic food products in the United States, announced the opening of its newest state-of-the-art distribution center, which was converted from a USDA-approved food facility. The new center is located in Manassas, VA, just outside the metro Washington, DC, area.
Meijer investing nearly $50 million in Dayton supercenters
In an effort to further enhance its customer shopping experience, Meijer will invest nearly $50 million in extensive remodel projects for four supercenters located in Ohio.
Van Solkema family divides responsibility and creates new firm
Surrounded by the four children, in-laws and grandchildren are Jerry and Sheryl Van Solkema.
Mexican figs approved for U.S. market
After a multi-year effort, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service has authorized the importation of Mexican figs into the United States, effective March 30, 2015, from areas that are not fruit-fly free. The figs must follow a protocol, including irradiation.
Allegiance announces two new field merchandisers
Allegiance Retail Services LLC has announced the addition of two new field merchandisers to its team: Angel Perez and Brendan Keating.
The new sweet onion is pink
North American consumers will have a chance to color up their plates in 2015 with pink onions. Joanne Steele, president of Tomato Specialists Inc., said this is the first full season the company will make the onion available to its customers.
“Pink onions are a breed,” she told The Produce News. “We started sourcing [from England] last year.”
Tomato Specialists is headquartered in Lehigh Acres, FL, and is celebrating its 27th anniversary this year.