Fresh Market CEO resigns
The Fresh Market Inc., a specialty grocery retailer, has named Sean Crane, executive vice president and chief operating officer, as interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. Craig Carlock, president, CEO and a member of the board of directors, has left the company.
Farm Star Living's Blackmon honored in Country Woman magazine
Mary Blackmon, founder of Farm Star Living, a national lifestyle brand highlighting farms, farm-fresh foods and the farm-to-table food movement, has been selected as one of Country Woman magazine's "Most Amazing Women." In honor of its anniversary, Country Woman has identified their 45 "Amazing Women" — including Tricia Yearwood, Loretta Lynn, Danica Patrick and Blackmon.
Avocados from Mexico reach the big stage
By the time the 2015 Super Bowl reaches the end of the first quarter on Feb. 1, at least 125 million people will have the opportunity to see a fresh produce item advertised along with the top consumer brands in the world.
Produce Pro rapidly installs system for Premier Produce
When Scott Danner moved from Kansas City, KS, last July to become the president of the foodservice supplier Premier Produce, his mission was to profitably build sales.
“So far, so good,” Danner said of progress at Premier, which is located in Pembroke Park, FL.
Hess Bros.’ stored apples are in outstanding condition
Apples stored at Hess Bros. Fruit Co. in Lancaster, PA, are in very good shape this year. On Dec. 12, Fred Hess, co-owner of the company, told The Produce News that the storage condition is excellent.
“The apples have good pressure and all other conditions look great at this time,” he said. “We calculate pressure — or firmness — of the fruit by weight. We weigh them when they go into storage and then weigh them throughout the year.”
January ginger market dynamics in state of flux
Significant changes in pricing and supply are spicing up dynamics in the domestic ginger market. Jim Provost, owner of I Love Produce in Kelton, PA, summarized things this way in late December: “When China hits full capacity, within about the next 30 days [by the middle of January 2015], prices will drop to 2012-2013 levels.”
Record-breaking crowd braves cold for Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference
SAVANNAH, GA — Icy winds blasted this usually sunny city during the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference Jan. 8-11, dropping temperatures to as low as 17 degrees, but that was the only thing amiss during the growing annual event at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.
Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference
More than 3,200 attendees — a record-breaking number — braved atypical freezing temperatures in usually sunny Savannah, GA, Jan. 8-11 for the grower-focused Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference, the largest education and innovation trade show in the region.
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Retail View: Haggen to use Charlie’s as key supplier
In December, 18-store Pacific Northwest grocery chain Haggen entered into an agreement to acquire 146 Albertson’s and Safeway stores as part of the divestment process brought on by the merger of those two chains.
Haggen subsequently announced it would expand its relationship with its current produce supplier, Charlie’s Produce in Seattle, to be the primary supplier of all 164 stores, which are located in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada.
Big Y donates 176,000 pounds of food to local charities
In a chain-wide effort to help the hungry within their local communities, Big Y's fifth annual Sack Hunger/Care To Share Program brought 19,238 bags of food to local charities.