Publix names new VP
After 40 years of dedicated service, Publix Super Markets Vice President of Distribution Richard Schuler announced his decision to retire, effective May 2. Casey Suarez will take over the position effective May 3.
Babé Farms names new CEO and VP
Judy Lundberg-Wafer, co-founder and owner of Babé Farms Inc., is stepping down as president and will assume the role of chairman of the board. Her son, Jeff Lundberg, will now serve as the company’s president and chief executive officer.
Publix CEO a keynote speaker at United Fresh
Ed Crenshaw, chief executive officer of Publix, will be the keynote speaker at the opening breakfast general session at the United Fresh 2014 convention in Chicago this June. Crenshaw will share his views on current and future trends in the supermarket retail industry, building upon his 40 years of experience at Publix, and his role as a member of the board and past chairman of the Food Marketing Institute, representing all of the retail supermarket industry.
Scalisi relocates to larger facility, expands organic produce line
West Palm Beach, FL-based foodservice distributor Jack Scalisi Wholesale Fruit & Produce has relocated to a new, 19,000-square-foot, eco-friendly facility about 10 minutes west of its current location, said Jack Scalisi, president of the company.
BC Tree Fruits strikes three-year partnership for export of BC-grown cherries
Following a successful export pilot project in 2013, BC Tree Fruits has extended its partnership with Sutherland S.A. Produce for an additional three years to manage the export of the BC Tree Fruits cherry crop through to the 2016 season.
MRL workshop to focus on practical IPM and export issues for California agriculture
An April 2 workshop in Visalia, CA, will provide vital information on how maximum residue levels for pesticides can affect the export of agricultural commodities.
A practical understanding of MRL science and policy issues will help attendees understand the evolving regulatory requirements of global trading partners. The meeting will provide practical insight on how MRLs are developed and how they drive pest management programs, export business and what the future looks like for global trade.
The Star Group announces management promotions
The Star Group, which supplies fresh fruit and vegetables from around the globe to retail and foodservice customers and includes the companies Star Produce, Nova Produce, Consolidated Fruit Packers, BC Hot House Foods, Sliced FC and Patterson Farms, announced two management promotions.
Jarrett Little has been promoted to senior vice president of sales, and Greg Kennedy was promoted from director of portfolio sales to president of Sliced FC.
Ciruli predicts mango volume to be similar to 2013
RIO RICO, AZ — The Feb. 18 USDA report indicated that so far in this young season, 620,000 cases of Mexican mangoes have crossed the U.S. border. As of the same date in 2013, that industry total figure was 850,000 cases, according to Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer of Ciruli Bros. LLC, based here.
These first days of Mexico’s mango deal reflect that axiom that mango trees have a large crop every other year. Mexico had a bumper mango crop in 2013.
Bland Farms’ Mexico, Texas sweet onions take center stage in pre-Vidalia window
Though Bland Farms LLC has become an international giant in the sweet onion industry, the empire was built on Vidalia onions and they remain at the top of the pecking order at the company’s Glennville, GA, headquarters. But the company’s sweet onions from Mexico and Texas are playing an increasingly important role and take top billing this time of year.
Bland is one of the world’s larger grower-shippers of Vidalia onions and has a 12-month sweet onion program with farms around the world. But owner Delbert Bland is planning for even bigger and better things.
Florida orange crop forecast decreases
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly forecast of the 2013-14 Florida orange crop decreased slightly to 114 million boxes. The USDA estimated early-mid orange varieties down 1 million to 53 million boxes, while Valencias remained at 61 million boxes.