Matthew Kugler joins Associated Potato Growers
Associated Potato Growers Inc. announced the hiring of Matthew Kugler. Kugler, who was a longtime potato and onion buyer at Russ Davis Wholesale, joins Greg Holtman and Jeff Lazur on the sales desk at Associated.
“Matthew comes to us with years of experience in the potato and onion business as a buyer for Russ Davis Wholesale,” Paul Dolan, general manager for Associated, said in a press release. “We are very excited that he has joined our staff. He has been in the produce business most of his adult life.”
Sweet potatoes lead produce hit parade in North Carolina
RALEIGH, NC—North Carolina produce crops brought in $608 million last year for fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries. And sweet potatoes led the way, Kevin D. Hardison is quick to point out. Hardison is a marketing specialist with a 14-year career in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Raleigh that brings a working knowledge of the 60 kinds of produce grown in the Tarheel State.
PAIA provides tips to promote Peruvian asparagus
In an effort to help retailers promote Peruvian asparagus, the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association has developed a Category Management Plan, which is chock full of data as well display and merchandising ideas.
Priscilla Lleras, PAIA coordinator, said the plan is available free of charge to all retailers either through members of the association or by contacting Lleras via email at [email protected].
Powerful retail pear promotions increase rings at the cash register
Retailers are encouraged to take advantage of a host of programs developed by the Pear Bureau Northwest designed to increase pear sales. “We have a robust promotion program planned for the upcoming season that incorporates successful tactics such as in-store radio and in-store sampling,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Moffitt. “We plan earlier sampling activities for Bartlett and Starkrimson pear varieties in order to get the momentum started for the season.
Northwest Pear Bureau looks forward to a ‘great’ season
The Pear Bureau Northwest has released its 2014 season Northwest fresh pear crop estimate. “With reports of a crop of excellent quality from the Pacific Northwest growing regions of Wenatchee and Yakima, WA, and Mid-Columbia and Medford in Oregon, the total projection is showing approximately 18.7 million standard 44-pound box equivalents (or 411,400 tons) of pears for the fresh market,” the Pear Bureau said on June 5. “This estimate is 6 percent smaller than the five-year average, and 13 percent smaller than last year’s record crop.”
California Avocado Commission to continue promotional activities through Labor Day
With a shorter crop this year than in 2013, the California avocado industry anticipated an earlier finish to the shipping season, with heavy volumes well into August but declining the latter part of August and only moderate availability thereafter.
Due to the lighter supplies and the earlier finish, the California Avocado Commission will not carry its promotional activities as late into the season this year as it did in 2013. But those efforts will continue through Labor Day.
Mexican avocados account for two-thirds of all avocados sold in U.S. market
During the just-concluded 2013-14 season, the total volume of Mexican avocados in the U.S. market was 1.13 billion pounds — a little higher than originally estimated — and represented 65.5 percent of the aggregate avocado volume in the United Sates during that period, according to a written statement provided to The Produce News by Alvaro Luque, president of Avocados from Mexico Inc. That volume represents just over one-third of Mexico’s total avocado production, which is also consumed domestically and exported to other countries such as Japan and Canada.
Chile will provide strong market support to drive avocado purchases
With the 2014 Chilean avocado season approaching, the Chilean Avocado Importers Association will be providing strong market support to drive avocado purchases at retail, according to Karen Brux, marketing director for CAI.
“Avocados from Chile are available throughout the fall and winter and into the early part of spring,” said Brux in a written statement to The Produce News. “We expect to see some small volumes enter the market in mid-late September, with promotable volumes available by late October.”
Peruvian Avocado Commission plans multi-faceted marketing program
This summer, the Peruvian Avocado Commission launched its first multi-faceted marketing program, including a national summer radio campaign, strategically designed to fulfill retailers' needs and drive consumer purchase.
IPC celebrates 60 years of Tater Tot-inspired menu creativity
When Tater Tots began arriving in grocery stores in 1954, they quickly caught on as a snack food, a side dish and the foundation for casseroles at dinner tables across America.