Chilean Fresh Fruit Association pushes through challenging season
Karen Brux, managing director North America for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association in San Carlos, CA, said that she feels it is fair to say that this has been a very challenging season for everyone involved in Chilean fruit, from growers and exporters to importers, wholesalers and retailers.
Dole Packaged Foods launches annual recipe contest
The sixth annual DOLE California Cook-Off recipe contest is accepting gas grilling recipes using at least one Dole Packaged Foods product at Dole.com/cookoff.
Kroger senior VP announces retirement
The Kroger Co. announced that Senior Vice President Robert (Pete) Williams plans to retire in May after 37 years with the company.
Williams has served in his current role since 2007. Today, he leads seven supermarket divisions. His replacement will be named at a later date.
Sunkist seasonal citrus brightens CPMA Convention & Trade Show
After a long, cold winter, Sunkist Growers is brightening up the greatly awaited spring by showcasing fresh, seasonal citrus from California and Arizona at the 2014 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention & Trade Show in Vancouver.
California Giant places emphasis on social media outreach to consumers
California Giant Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA, a leading producer and marketer of strawberries and other berries, is focusing its promotional efforts not so much on retail-specific programs as on consumer outreach, mainly through social media and other internet channels, according to Cindy Jewell, marketing director.
“We are doing a lot with consumers,” Jewell said.
Garden Fresh gears up for ‘100-day watermelon war’
In early March, Chip Jetter, president of Garden Fresh Distribution Service Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that the company was gearing up to start its watermelon program in early April.
“We’re about to get real busy,” said Jetter. “We jokingly call the period from the first of May through July 4 the ‘100-day watermelon war’ because it is when the demand is the strongest.”
Fresh Fruit Cuts increases efficiency and volume with new equipment
In preparation for the start of the California stone fruit season in early May, fresh-cut peach and nectarine processor Fresh Fruit Cuts, located in Fresno, CA, has made numerous facility upgrades to increase efficiency and volume.
DNE citrus reaches peak of perfection
Dan Schatz, general manager at DNE World Fruit Sales, said the company’s fruit has reached the peak of perfection. “Our current fruit is at peak flavor and eats like candy,” he told The Produce News.
Bernard Egan & Co./DNE World Fruit Sales is the largest marketer of Florida fresh citrus and is one of the largest independently owned citrus marketers in the world. DNE is located in Fort Pierce, FL, and shipping operations outside of Florida are found in Texas, Arizona and California. An import sales office and shipping facility are also located in New Jersey.
W.P Produce moving into avocado season
W.P. Produce Corporation has been moving a full line of tropical produce from its operations in Miami, FL, since 1984. The company was created by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Willy Pardo and his daughter, Desiree Morales, who serves as vice president. The company’s commodity manifest includes a broad list of tropical fruits and roots. W.P. Produce has partnerships in place with Florida producers of boniato, Florida avocados, guava and mamey.
Northampton Growers expecting smooth transition this season
“At this point, we are expecting a smooth transition moving northward this season,” Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers Produce Sales Inc., headquartered in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News on March 21.
However, the company, as with many other growers in Florida, took a hard hit with early pepper production due to freezes earlier in the year that caused a major bloom drop and numerous other issues.