Limoneira invests in Chilean citrus packing operation
Limoneira Co., a leading agribusiness based in Santa Paula, CA, with prime agricultural land and operations, real estate and water rights in California and Arizona, announced that it has made an investment in Rosales S.A, a citrus packing, marketing and sales operation in La Serena, Chile.
Christopher Ranch sees good 2014, has concerns for 2015 due to water shortage
Garlic acreage for Christopher Ranch LLC in Gilroy, CA for the 2014 harvest is similar to 2013, and with the harvest well under way, yields appear normal, according to President Bill Christopher. That is an improvement over last year, when “yields were off about 10 or 15 percent,” he told The Produce News July 22.
Next year could be a different story, however. “We are very concerned about next year with the lack of water,” he said.
Peruvian asparagus an integral part of branded commodities at Robinson Fresh
Robinson Fresh continues to build its supply-side relationships to ensure that the domestic marketplace has access to the finest quality asparagus available at any time of year.
“Peru is a key source of Robinson Fresh’s asparagus supply with seasonal volumes from Mexico, California and Washington,” Joe Dugo, senior sourcing representative, told The Produce News. “Although Robinson Fresh offers Peruvian asparagus year-round, volume typically peaks at the end of August through mid-December.”
Gary Roselli joins Allegiance Retail Services
ISELIN, NJ — Allegiance Retail Services LLC announced Aug. 18 the addition of Gary Roselli as category manager for produce and floral. In this position, he will focus on managing merchandising programs and recommending new initiatives and strategies for meeting sales and profit goals.
Unique potato varieties showcased at Sunrain open house
Some 60 different "unique and proprietary" varieties of potatoes shared the limelight at an Aug. 13 open house at .Sunrain Varieties LLC in Idaho Falls, ID.
The company, which was formed about six years ago as a partnership of Potandon Produce LLC in Idaho Falls and Toronto-based Earth Fresh, specializes in development of potato varieties of all sorts and the production of potato seed.
Good rates punctuate summer trucking season
The summer transportation season was active with good, strong rates at numbers allowing truckers to make a decent living. At least that was the view of a couple of New York truck brokers surveyed on the subject in mid-August.
“May, June and July were super busy,” said Lance Dichter of LD Logistics, based in the Bronx, NY. “August has fallen off a bit but we had a good strong summer.”
Paul Kazan, president of Target Interstate Systems Inc., also headquartered on the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, agreed.
FDA Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor to speak at The Washington Conference
Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, Food and Drug Administration, will present the keynote address Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Breakfast General Session of The Washington Conference.
Deputy Commissioner Taylor will provide an update on the FDA’s rulemaking for the Food Safety Modernization Act. FDA has proposed several rules under FSMA that could have significant impact on the fresh produce industry and the safety of our nation’s fresh produce.
The PMA Foundation committed to growing the industry’s talent
Michael Gould was chairman and chief executive officer of Bloomingdale’s for 23 years, retiring this past February. In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Gould shared that even during the great recession, Bloomingdale’s didn’t cut its training budget.
TransFresh introduces Tectrol Storage Solutions for fresh blueberries
TransFresh Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands, has adapted its flagship technology, Tectrol Modified Atmosphere Packaging System, which is widely used to provide protection to strawberries in transit, to meet specific needs of the rapidly growing blueberry market.
Garlic Co. sees growth in individual recipe vacuum packs for retail
Among the various forms in which The Garlic Co. in Bakersfield, CA, offers garlic to the retail trade is a recipe-ready vacuum pack of peeled garlic consisting of individual one-ounce vacuum-sealed packages in a six-ounce pouch. That product is currently going to “a few of our retail customers, but more of the peeled garlic is going in that direction,” said Michael Layous, who is in sales and marketing with the company.
The product is available in both conventional and organic forms.