RJO selected for Google Glass program
RJO Produce Marketing, a leading innovator in field-based inspections and quality management, has been selected by Google to test Google Glass in its Bird Dog field inspection program. RJO has been using Google Glass since late December 2013, exploring the emerging technology and its possible integration with their Bird Dog App.
Envy apples reach volume milestone
The latest apple from Enza has a following any new fruit would Envy. The aptly named apple will surpass the 100,000-carton mark out of Washington this season for the first time ever, as growers endeavor to feed the demand that continues to outpace supply.
United Fresh announces Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools
The United Fresh Foundation launched Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools, a new multi-year campaign to increase children’s produce consumption by donating salad bars to schools in six Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
United Fresh announced the campaign at its Winter Leadership Meeting in Miami, and introduced 12 Midwest produce industry leaders who will co-chair the campaign:
eHarvestHub launches free traceability solution for growers
eHarvestHub, a leading provider of user-friendly and affordable technology for mid- to small growers, has launched its free produce traceability platform.
"Available to all mid- to small growers, it is the only free traceability solution that meets the Produce Traceability Initiative standards," the company stated in a press release.
Retail View: Commodity promotions work
The latest research on the effectiveness of commodity promotion programs has once again shown that advertising works.
Richard Sexton, an agricultural marketing economist and professor at the University of California-Davis, recently completed an extensive project with a colleague measuring the effective of the promotions done under the auspices of the Hass Avocado Board. These promotions include those done by the board as well as the California Avocado Commission, the Mexican groups that were forerunners to Avocados from Mexico and the Chilean Avocado Importers Association.
Market Fresh Produce adds to corporate staff
Market Fresh recently hired Dana Summer as its senior director of global operations. She will develop and execute strategies to improve procurement processes, policies and tools.
Fingerling potatoes an important thrust for RPE
Fingerling potatoes are playing an increasingly important role in the current and future offerings of Bancroft, WI-based RPE Produce, Inc.
Randy Shell, RPE’s vice president of marketing and new business development, detailed this in an interview with The Produce News.
United Fresh membership lauds Joe Procacci
MIAMI — A gentleman. Humble. Hard-working. Those were just a few of the oft-repeated words used to describe Joe Procacci, chairman and chief executive officer of Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Fresh Produce Association at its annual Winter Leadership Meeting, held Jan. 21-23 at the Trump National Doral Country Club, here.
Good growing weather, bad buying weather combine for depressed markets
One California shipper said it a "classic example of beautiful weather out here (California) combining with terrible weather in the East to produce cheap low markets."
David Cook, sales manager for Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard, CA, said "we have had gorgeous weather for weeks on end. It seems our winter came during a two week period in early December and it has been beautiful ever since."
He said that has led to better than usual supplies and East Coast movement that is down a bit because of the terrible weather.
FoodLink reports fourth consecutive year of growth
FoodLink, a leader in supply chain and commerce solutions for the fresh food industry, reported a fourth consecutive year of record growth in 2013. The company signed more than 40 new produce traceability customers, enabled record levels of network commerce and was named the industry’s best new food-safety solution.