Sage Fruit renews JRM sponsorship in NASCAR series
Sage Fruit Co. renewed its associate sponsorship of JR Motorsports — the professional race team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. — which fields multiple teams and tours nationally in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (formally Nationwide Series). This will be the second year Sage Fruit has sponsored JRM.
Lakeside Organic Gardens now offering organic broccoli leaf
Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC, headquartered in Watsonville, CA, recently announced that the company now offers highly nutritious organic broccoli leaf.
“Some argue that broccoli leaf is even more nutritious than kale,” said Lindsey Roberts, marketing communications director for the company. “Try them sautéed in a little olive oil and garlic just like you would with collards. They’re delicious, earthy and resemble broccoli just enough to remind you of where they came from.”
Organic veg market is ‘reinvigorated,’ according to Wholesum Family Farms
NOGALES, AZ — Organic Mexican vegetable supplies are down in January and demand is pushing prices to high levels, according to Steve LeFevre, sales manager for Wholesum Family Farms, based here. LeFevre added that red Bell peppers are the exception to this rule.
“The cucumber market is extremely tight,” LeFevre said. “Wholesum’s organic cucumber volume was down this year anyway. We don’t have the (cucumber) numbers we had in the past. But organic cucumbers from Mexico are down in general. It’s extremely tight.”
Big crowd expected for Southern Exposure 2015
The Southeast Produce Council's 2015 conference and trade show could see record overall attendance, with excellent representation as always from the key retail and foodservice sides of the produce industry, according to one of the leaders of the council.
USApple and members freshen up '28 Days of Apples' for American Heart Month
The USApple Association, its members and industry supporters are once again partnering to engage with consumers on social media each day during February’s American Heart Month to spotlight apples’ essential role in heart health. The association’s award-winning “28 Days of Apples” initiative returns for 2015 after successfully engaging with more than 15 million consumers last year by highlighting 28 ways and reasons apples are healthy for our hearts and bodies.
Del Monte receives Sustainably Grown certification at Costa Rica and Guatemala farms
Del Monte Fresh Produce’s banana farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica, as well as its pineapple farms in Costa Rica, have been certified as Sustainably Grown by SCS Global Services in accordance with the producer requirements of its internationally recognized Sustainably Grown Standard v 1.3.
Total Produce buying 50 percent of Gambles Ontario
Total Produce PLC in Dublin, Ireland, has agreed to purchase a 50 percent share in Gambles Ontario Produce Inc., a Toronto-based distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables.
“This partnership with Total Produce will enable us to grow strategically to the benefit of our growers and customers,” Jeff Hughes, president at Gambles Produce, said in a press release. “We will continue to operate autonomously but will have the support of Total Produce and their global affiliations alongside us.”
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission director honored
Sue Johnson-Langdon, executive director of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission, was awarded with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine at the commission's annual meeting Jan. 15. In addition to her role with the commission, she also serves as the treasurer and manager of the American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute, which is devoted to expanding exports.
RedLine Solutions to host Part 2 of ‘Traceability for Dummies’ webinar series
RedLine Solutions, a leader in produce traceability and inventory solutions, will host the second in its Traceability For Dummies webinar series titled “The New Era of Traceability Part 2: The Produce Traceability Model.”
Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission reporting larger crop, excellent quality
Louisiana's stored sweet potato crop is in very good condition this season, and there should be an excellent selection through June.