Hogervorst to leave FloraHolland
Dirk Hogervorst, strategy, marketing and business development manager at FloraHolland in the Netherlands, will leave the company after more than 25 years, according to a news release.
National Mango Board’s referendum right around the corner
The United States Department of Agriculture is required to administer a continuation referendum for the National Mango Board every five years. This referendum will be held April 6-17. Importers and first handlers who handled at least 500,000 pounds of mangos during the 2014 calendar year are eligible to vote, and all those eligible will be receiving a ballot directly from USDA.
Grow Farms Texas names director of business development
Grow Farms Texas, a joint venture between the Horton Fruit Co. and Ciruli Bros. LLC, based in Donna, TX, has named Gretchen Kreidler director of business development.
Markets aside, great Vidalia season starts with a great crop for Bland Farms
A month ago, Delbert Bland of Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, wondered if what was looking like an excellent Vidalia onion crop would find a hospitable market when it arrived in mid-April. With a winter glut of sweet onions and more on the way from Mexico and Texas, Bland had no idea how the market would shake out.
But Mexico’s quality has been “spotty” and the Texas deal, which is late coming off, shows similar inconsistencies, said Bland, who grows in all three areas as well as Peru.
Market Fresh’s expedites Vidalia field-to-fork period
To maximize quality and shelf life, Market Fresh Produce, LLC, is expediting its operation to move its Vidalia onions from field to fork, according to Tyler Phipps.
Market Fresh has its business office in Nixa, MO. Phipps is the general manager of the firm’s Monett operation, which opened in November.
Gourmet Trading Co. cites large increase in organic blueberries from Chile this year
In mid-March, Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, was continuing its movement of both organic and conventional blueberries from Chile.
Chloé Varennes, marketing manager for the fwwirm, said that both quality and rotation of the Chilean blueberries has been excellent this season. The items run from November through March.
California Fresh Fruit Association holds 79th annual board meeting under new name
The California Fresh Fruit Association kicked off its new fiscal year during its 79th annual meeting in Del Mar, CA. The event featured the election of the board of directors and chairman, as well as industry and committee updates.
The board of directors is made up of 47 men and women from operations located from as far south as Coachella Valley with fresh table grape vineyards to as far north as Lake County with pear production.
Nature Fresh Farms to unveil ‘Sesame Street’ packaging at CPMA Convention & Trade Show
Nature Fresh Farms will be unveiling its “Sesame Street” packaging to the Canadian marketplace at the CPMA Convention & Trade Show on April 15-17 in Montreal.
The packaging line includes “Cookie Monster” theme pre-printed pepper bags and an arrangement of custom themed packaging that includes “Big Bird,” “Elmo,” “Grover,” “Bert & Ernie” and “Oscar the Grouch.”
Chris Veillon, director of marketing for the Leamington, Ontario-based company, a leading greenhouse producer of fresh vegetables, said the company would be exhibiting at Booth No. 623 at the event.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods to promote ‘Dandy’ ‘Simple Salad in Seconds’
Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ “Dandy” brand “Simple Salad in Seconds” is a flavorful variety of petite Salanova lettuce variety heads that deliver three times more leaves than any other lettuce.
Nichole Towell, director of marketing for the Oviedo, FL-based company, a leading producer, packer and shipper of high-quality produce, said that “Simple Salad in Seconds” offer consumers many benefits.
Tomato Specialists Inc.’s Steele: ‘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.