Stemilt awarded license to new University of Minnesota apple cultivar
The University of Minnesota has awarded Stemilt Growers the license to grow, pack, and market a new, early-to-ripen apple cultivar. The patent name for the cultivar is MN55, and the University of Minnesota plans to trademark a name for the fruit in conjunction with Stemilt in the near future.
Whole Foods Market and Instacart partner to offer one-hour delivery across 15 major U.S. cities
Whole Foods Market and one-hour grocery delivery service Instacart announced a new partnership that enables customers to have Whole Foods products delivered in as little as one hour. Customers will soon also have the option to place orders via Instacart and pick up their order at a local participating Whole Foods store.
Ready Pac names new sales executive
Ready Pac Foods Inc. announced that Jay Ellis has been named chief sales officer. Ellis will be responsible for utilizing best practices to establish and meet sales targets and ensure the best possible service and effective communications with Ready Pac customers. Along with building and developing the Ready Pac sales team, he will manage and direct the execution of sales plans and initiatives across all sales channels.
Farm Fresh offering early cured sweet potatoes
With most North Carolina farms growing diverse crops, it's hard to pinpoint a solid start date for the harvest of North Carolina sweet potatoes, according to Steven Ceccarelli, the owner of Farm Fresh Produce Inc., based in Faison, NC.
Ceccarelli said Sept. 5 that about 10-20 percent of the sweet potato harvest was complete. But many growers also harvest tobacco, and from a farm management and labor point of view, tobacco harvest would precede sweet potatoes. Farmers of peanuts or other crops would have still other harvest schedules.
Wisconsin potatoes enjoying strong start to 2014 season
The weather has been kind, providing Wisconsin potato growers with a very good summer production season. The earliest harvest started well in mid-August. Weather permitting, the growers expect a very good fall harvest.
“It’s been a great growing season. It’s gone real well,” said Mike Carter, chief executive officer of Bushmans’ Inc., in Rosholt, WI.
Maglio & Co. names regional sales manager
Maglio & Co., based in Glendale, WI, announced the addition of Robert Wilkinson as regional sales manager.
Wilkinson has over 15 years of experience in the produce industry. In his new position at Maglio & Co., Wilkinson will help to build customer bases and provide training to strengthen the sales team.
Tom Consalo hopes strong fall follows consistent summer
VINELAND, NJ — Summer 2014 in southern New Jersey saw ideal growing conditions and fairly steady pricing, according to Tom Consalo, vice president of The Freshwave LLC, who is now hoping that the state’s fall produce deal will show this same kind of consistency.
Optimism abounds as Flaim Farms/R&R Flaim Next Generation Produce heads into fall season
Ideal growing conditions this summer resulted in one of the better seasons in memory for Ryan Flaim of Flaim Farms/R&R Flaim Next Generation Produce, and that has the company optimistic for a strong fall season.
“Across the board we had very high quality on our summer crops,” said Flaim. “The growing conditions this summer were outstanding. We had perfect temperatures and not too much rain, which kept volumes in check. As a result, we enjoyed very steady markets and good prices.”
Expanded Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference planned for 2015
The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference returns to Savannah, GA, Jan. 8-11, 2015. In 2014, the event hosted more than 3,000 produce industry members.
Domex Superfresh self-driven platforms helping workers, fruit quality
In an orchard update from Domex Superfresh Growers, Dave Gleason talks about the beginning of this year's apple harvest and the use of self-driven, multi-level platforms that aid workers in the pick process.
The platforms allow Domex to do away with ladders altogether, creating a much safer and more efficient working environment. The company is also seeing less bruising on the fruit.