Homegrown Organic Farms celebrates first anniversary of new facility
Homegrown Organic Farms is set to celebrate the first anniversary of its new facility in early May. The company is located in Porterville, CA, and the new facility occupies 28 acres west of Highway 99 in Kingsburg, CA.
“Its location will enhance logistical efficiencies and improve customer service through ease of access for transportation,” Marketing Manager Cherie France told The Produce News.
Jewell: California Giant moving superb quality blues to marketplace
During April, California Giant Berry Farms — headquartered in Watsonville, CA — was in its peak season for California coastal blueberry production. “Quality has been superb, and we expect to see this quality persist throughout the month of April,” Director of Marketing Cindy Jewell told The Produce News.
Timing good to explore increased export opportunities
As California’s blueberry crop increases in volume, growers continue to develop offshore markets. “The California Blueberry Commission is heavily focused on exports,” said Executive Director Alexander Ott. At the current time, roughly 20 percent of the Golden State’s blues are moved to export destinations.
The commission was created by an act of the California State Legislature and approved by a grower-shipper referendum. The commission is funded through grower assessment and reauthorized every five years. The next referendum will take place in 2015.
Martori adopts new food-safety program for cantaloupes
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — This spring, Martori Farms, headquartered here, is fully activating a new type of food-safety program for packing cantaloupes.
Grower Direct Marketing off to an early start with MonsterCots
Grower Direct Marketing, a Stockton, CA-based grower-shipper, is off to an early start with its MonsterCot crop.
Legend Produce begins domestic harvest of Origami cantaloupe
Legend Produce, a leading U.S. melon supplier, has begun harvesting the popular Origami cantaloupes, which will be available through October.
The characteristics and advantages of the Origami, including high Brix, thin rind, small cavity and great flavor, have made it one of the more popular melon varieties.
Military Produce Group deploys IFCO RPCs
The Military Produce Group is showing its commitment to the environment by using reusable plastic containers from IFCO Systems for the shipment of fresh produce to dozens of commissaries.
The Military Produce Group, which supplies fruits and vegetables to commissaries in the southern United States, is moving to RPCs from corrugated boxes for several commodities. This move furthers the Defense Commissary Agency's sustainability program.
Stuart Smith joins Interfresh Inc.
Orange, CA-based Interfresh Inc., a national supplier of fruits and vegetables, announced the addition of Stuart Smith to its sales staff in San Bruno, CA, effective April 7.
‘Oso Sweet’ California onions grown for West Coast
With the objective of making Vidalia-type sweet onions available when the true Vidalia onions were not in season, Saven Corp. in Savannah, GA, 25 years ago, began growing sweet onions in Chile during the winter and marketing them in the United States under the “Oso Sweet” trademark.
Fruit Royale triples size of Mexican grape program for 2014
“Our program is growing by leaps and bounds,” Louie Galvan, a partner in Delano, CA-based Fruit Royale told The Produce News April 1, referring to the company’s involvement in the Mexican grape deal.
“We are actually tripling our numbers from last year,” he said. “We have brought on a couple of sizeable growers, and we are making some moves to get involved in the growing process down there as well. We will have a sizeable deal.”
All of the company’s grapes from Mexico will ship out of Nogales, AZ, he said.