Procacci honored at Produce Legends dinner
MIAMI — Joe Procacci, chairman and chief executive officer of Procacci Bros. Sales Corp. in Philadelphia, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award Jan. 21 at the United Fresh Winter Leadership Meeting, here. Several hundred members of the industry gathered at the Trump National Doral Country Club, here, to celebrate Procacci's storied career in the produce industry.
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Industry vet Andrew Scott joins Coosemans
TAMPA, FL — Industry veteran Andrew Scott has joined Coosemans Interproduce Divisions as director of sales and marketing.
Scott will be based in Atlanta and oversee Coosemans Interproduce Division's five operations in Tampa, FL, Miami, Dallas, Cleveland and San Francisco.
Wish Farms to host charity event
Wish Farms, one of the larger growers and shippers of strawberries in Florida, will be hosting the first Bright House Networks Strawberry Picking Challenge, Feb. 7 and 8 in Plant City, FL.
Skyline Potato moving quality product to regional customers
This season, Skyline Potato Co., located in Center, CO, plans to move approximately 1.4 million hundredweight of potatoes from the San Luis Valley.
Maverick Potato doubling yellows in 2014, adding more drip irrigation
With its inaugural “a great start,” Maverick Potato Co. in Center, CO, is heading into 2014 with plans to double yellow production, increase organics, make upgrades to the packingshed and continue to build relationships in both domestic and Mexican markets, according to company President Roger Christensen.
Third generation builds on potato legacy at Lenz Family Farms
With 110 family members now following his commitment to integrity and a strong work ethic, George Lenz left a lasting legacy to the three-generation potato growing and shipping operation in northeastern Colorado.
Aspen Produce optimistic about new russet varieties
Although Colorado’s ongoing water shortage has resulted in fewer acres of potatoes in the San Luis Valley this year, Jed Ellithorpe, farm and operations manager for Aspen Produce’s sister company, Ponderosa Partnership, said he was optimistic going into the 2013 harvest.
“Our acreage is down,” Ellithorpe said in late August, confirming what he had predicted in early 2013. “We have had to cut back because of water.”
Bob Estes named Ready Pac's CIO
Ready Pac Foods Inc. recently hired Bob Estes as its chief information officer. As the company’s CIO, Estes will lead all information systems and technology, where his focus will be on transforming information accessibility and system integration.
The CIO position is a critical contributor in achieving Ready Pac’s overall company goals through the advancement of its business systems and information flow. He will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Tony Sarsam.
California freeze, greening in Florida putting the squeeze on domestic winter citrus production
Freezing weather in California and another decline in projected production in Florida are putting a minor squeeze on the domestic U.S winter citrus deal. Meanwhile, rains in Texas have filled out the Lone Star State crop, which is making up for shorter supplies of smaller oranges on the West Coast.
Citrus growers across Florida dodged a series of bullets in early to mid-January as temperatures repeatedly flirted with the freezing mark as far south as Fort Myers and were predicted to do so throughout the week of Jan. 20.
FirstFruits Marketing increasing awareness of Opal apples
Opal apples kicked off the season to strong consumer demand. Since the arrival of Opal in late 2013, FirstFruits Marketing, the exclusive marketer of Opal apples, has been increasing awareness and consumer engagement through social media and blogger partnerships.