23 Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie stores set to close
Bi-Lo Holdings will be closing 23 Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie stores due to poor performance. These locations, most of which will be shuttered on or before Nov. 19, represent less than 3 percent of the total store base.
“With much of our attention during the last two years placed on merging 207 Bi-Lo and 480 Winn-Dixie stores, and integrating 163 acquired Delhaize America stores, we purposely delayed what is normally an ongoing process of reviewing our network of stores,” Julianne Roberts, who handles corporate communications, told The Produce News.
Holtzinger hires new sales manager
Yakima, WA-based Holtzinger Fruit Co. has hired Paul Montmeny, a retail and produce sales veteran, as its sales manager. Montmeny comes to Holtzinger with more than 25 years in the apple and berry industries.
Grimmway Farms introduces 'TRUE' organic juice
Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, CA, introduced its new line of "TRUE" organic juices to meet the needs of consumers in the super premium organic juice category.
Powered by Grimmway's Cal-Organic farming operation, "TRUE" blends Cal-Organic vegetables with a variety of organic fruits for a line of premium organic juice smoothies.
Tom Lange Co. opens citrus-packing facility
Tom Lange Co. has opened a citrus-packing facility. Located in California's San Joaquin Valley, the Porterville-based Seven Seas Packers division is an established citrus-production facility specializing in high-quality oranges, lemons, grapefruit, as well as other citrus products.
CPS awards $2.8 million to 14 projects
The Center for Produce Safety announced 14 new grant awards valued at $2.8 million. The research awards are directed at answering critical questions in specific areas of food-safety practices for fruit, vegetable and tree nut production; pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest handling; and co-management of food safety and the environment. The objective is to provide the produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used at all levels of the supply chain.
'RedLine Receipt' redefines harvested product receiving, improves inventory efficiencies
RedLine Solutions, a leader in produce traceability and inventory solutions located in Santa Clara, CA, announced a new cutting-edge application, "RedLine Receipt," that enables companies to quickly and accurately receive harvested bulk products and update inventory information in grower accounting systems.
Andrea Allen joins Monterey Mushrooms
Watsonville, CA-based Monterey Mushrooms announced the hire of Andrea Allen as Southeast regional sales manager.
In her new position, Allen will be responsible for managing fresh mushroom sales with both retail and foodservice customers in the seven states surrounding the mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
Volume, sizing down, but quality excellent for Quail H Farms
Although California’s water shortage will have some impact on this year’s crop of sweet potatoes, Larelle Miller, sales manager at Quail H Farms LLC in Livingston, CA, said the company still anticipates a high-quality crop. “Water has been an issue for us,” she told The Produce News. “We had to reduce our planted acreage to match our water allocation.
New general manager at Diaz Produce
Jorge Antona is a very busy man. He is president of Diaz Produce and he loves his job.
“I don’t think you do what I do without loving it, takes a lot of hours, making sure the trucks get there and get to you,” he said. “It is an around-the-clock kind of job.”
The hard work is paying off. “We have done fairly well the last two years and we’ve grown tremendously,” he continued. “We saw 20 percent growth in 2013, and are on the same path for 2014.”
Mann Packing to celebrate 75th anniversary at PMA Fresh Summit
Mann Packing, a leading supplier of washed and ready-to-eat vegetables, will celebrate the company's 75th year in business and highlight two products in the new products showcase at PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, CA, in Booth No. 1538 of the Salinas Valley Grower Shipper Pavilion.