Summit Produce hires Nolan Quinn
Fresno, CA-based Summit Produce recently hired Nolan Quinn as its commercial manager.
In his new role, Quinn will focus on developing and managing programs from Summit’s parent company, Gesex, a grower of premium Chilean stone fruit, grapes, kiwi and citrus. Quinn will connect with Summit’s existing partners while forging new relationships with potential partners.
Prior to joining Summit, Quinn worked at Oppenheimer for 19 years, most recently serving as the marketer’s berry category director.
DeLallo launches new ‘Crisp SaladSavors’ variety just in time for holidays
The George DeLallo Co., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has launched its new “Crisp SaladSavors” variety just in time for the holidays.
This new flavor combo is an addition to the company’s gourmet salad-topping lineup.
Giuliana Pozzuto, marketing director, said that the company is “ready to rock the produce department yet again” with DeLallo’s new variety of its signature “SaladSavors” salad toppings’ line.
Bartolotta’s western vegetable deal in full swing
“Our western vegetable deal picked up immensely the minute the northeastern movement began to slow down around the beginning of October,” Kevin Bartolotta, president of Bartolotta Inc. in Torrington, CT, told The Produce News. “The only exceptions are eastern potatoes, onions and a few other commodity items.”
Industry associates started calling Bartolotta the “Celery King” several years ago, and he decided to turn it into his company brand name. Today he continues to do a major celery business, especially from California and Florida.
Apple industry unites to increase sales
It’s not unprecedented for the apple industry to work together — industry members do so daily on issues ranging from immigration to trade relations to crop research. But this holiday season U.S. Apple Association and participating members are working to support apple sales by conducting joint retail communications and consumer education programs that share the same themes with their respective audiences at the same time.
QPMA's Oyster Party
A record crowd of over 550 participants attended the 29th Quebec Produce Marketing Association Oyster Party at the Le Rizz Receptions in St‐Léonard, QC. Guests were treated to an all-you-can-eat oyster bar, Italian-style buffet and casino games. Immediately preceding the event, QPMA held a special general meeting to present the annual financial results, marketing activities and new members to the association.
Solid December market expected for western veg supplies
As expected, the break in vegetable demand at the end of November brought the lettuce market down to earth, but a solid market is expected as the Christmas pull begins the week of Dec. 8-12.
Vic Smith of JV Smith Cos., a large vegetable grower headquartered in Yuma, AZ, told The Produce News Dec. 5 that the early-season quality problems that limited supplies have cleared up. Those issues resulted in decreased volume and a demand-exceed-supply situation for the Thanksgiving pull.
Wegmans customers donate $23,704 to United Way
During the fall 2014 United Way checkout scanning campaign at five Wegmans stores in the Southern Tier of New York, donations totaled $23,704, a 23 percent increase over the fall 2013 total.
“These donations directly benefit United Way programs and services in the local community,” Patty Kaminski, Wegmans’ district manager of the Southern Tier stores, said in a press release. “We’re so grateful to our customers and employees for their continued generosity this fall.”
Pear Bureau Northwest awarded specialty crop block grant
Pear Bureau Northwest was awarded $40,000 from the Oregon Department of Agriculture and $20,000 from the Washington State Department of Agriculture through the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant. The grant will enable the Pear Bureau Northwest to focus on “Putting Pears on the Menu: Increasing the use of Pears on National Chain Restaurants.”
Fresh produce volume remains steady
The United Fresh Produce Association released the Q3 2014 edition of the FreshFacts on Retail report, which examines overall retail trends in produce. The report shows that, during this quarter, fruit and vegetable volume remained steady compared to the previous year, while dollar sales increased slightly due to a small increase in average retail price.
AllFresh GPS names Ed Klein new sales manager
AllFresh GPS, the committed group of Michigan apple growers based in Comstock, MI, announced industry veteran Ed Klein as its new sales manager on Nov. 12.
Prior to joining AllFresh, Klein was director of sales for Fresh Express (Chiquita) where he worked with retail and distribution partners to build consumer-focused apple programs.
Klein began his grocery career with Stouffer Frozen Foods in 1989. He then transitioned to fresh produce with the Chicago company Acosta (PMI Eisenhart). At Fresh Express, he was heavily involved in the Defense Commissary Agency program.