Industry gathers for America Trades Produce Conference
The fourth annual America Trades Produce Conference kicked off March 12 in Tubac, AZ, with a Welcoming Reception at the Tubac Resort, which brought together attendees from Arizona and Texas, as well as other parts of North America.
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Fresh Produce sales up in 2013, growth in organic produce
The United Fresh Produce Association released the 2013 year-in-review edition of the FreshFacts on Retail report, which examines overall retail trends in produce for the past year. The report shows that during 2013, the produce department averaged more than $47,000 per week per store, which was up 4.8 percent over the previous year.
Weis Markets promotes Kurt Schertle to COO
Weis Markets announced the promotion of Kurt Schertle to chief operating officer. Prior to his promotion, he was the company’s executive vice president.
Schertle will continue to oversee all aspects of the company’s marketing, merchandising, procurement and advertising for its center store, perishable and pharmacy departments; store operations; and the company’s supply chain, including its distribution and transportation teams.
H-E-B Organics offers affordable organic options
H-E-B is introducing H-E-B Organics, the company's own line of organic products offered at everyday low prices, to strengthen its commitment to offering customers more food choices to fit their lifestyles. The company believes making organics more prevalent and affordable will create better access to a wide variety of food choices for all Texans.
Christopher Ranch says Pompano Beach facility helps the company ensure quality service to customers in the Southeast
Christopher Ranch, headquartered in Gilroy, CA, ships its wide range of high-quality products across the U.S. and Canada. The company opened a Pompano Beach, FL, office and warehouse in 1997 when it became clear that it needed to be more responsive to its customer base in the Southeast.
“Our Pompano office is headed up by Gus Battaglia,” said Patsy Ross, vice president of marketing. “Gus is originally from Chicago and is a veteran of the produce industry.”
Bozzuto's holds 2014 Independent Retailer Conference
MASHANTUCKET, CT — A large and enthusiastic crowd gathered March 11-12, for Bozzuto's Inc.'s 2014 Independent Retailer Conference, held at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, here.Vendors from bakery, deli, meat, frozen food, dairy and grocery were all key parts of the annual event, but fresh produce again was front and center, as vendors from the fresh produce sector were situated in the lobby area that leads to the main trade show area.
Florida Fresh Potato Growers see slightly high volumes this season
Florida Fresh Potato Growers Inc. is a grower cooperative comprised of potato growers in southern Florida. The cooperative moves product to retail, foodservice and wholesale distributors primarily on the Southeastern and Eastern seaboards and in the Midwest, as well as into Canada. Varieties grown and marketed are new-crop red, gold, white, purple and fingerling potatoes.
Ken Wiles, vice president of sales with cooperative member Mack Farms Inc., a cooperative member, said that the 2013-14 south Florida potato growing season has been one of mild weather.
Florida agriculture experts continue their relentless fight against citrus greening disease
Fred Gmitter is one of about 26 faculty members at the University of Florida’ Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, Citrus Research & Education Center, whose sole job is to focus on citrus.
“Our staff members work on many aspects of citrus,” said Gmitter. “We cover all types of plant pathology, entomology, nematology, breeding, horticulture, processing, pest control and even economics, food safety and much more, which are all related specifically to citrus.”
Social media is now core, not peripheral, in strawberry commission PR
It is news to no one that the world of public communications and, therefore, of public relations, has changed dramatically in the last two decades with the rise in popularity of the internet and particularly in the last decade with the growing ubiquity of social networking.
Sambrailo Packaging adds button lock option for its strawberry clamshells
Newly introduced by Sambrailo Packaging in Watsonville, CA, for its line of Mixim System clamshells, according to Jim Scattini, vice president of sales and marketing, is a button lock option for the one-pound strawberry clamshell.
“It is still the Mixim design,” he said, “but it has a button lock versus the friction lock.” The company now offers both options, depending on customer preference.