Southern Specialties now offering Fair Trade-certified French beans under 'Today's Gourmet' label
Southern Specialties, a Pompano Beach, FL-based distributor of a full line of specialty produce items, announced it has started shipping Fair Trade-certified French beans under its "Today's Gourmet" label.
Stemilt’s Piñata bursting with sales for retailers
Retailers who came on board with the Piñata apple variety are seeing the fruits of their labors rewarded. “Piñata has been in unbelievable demand, and the hard work retailers have done in past seasons is returning extra sales to them,” said Roger Pepperl, director of marketing for Stemilt Growers LLC in Wenatchee, WA. “We are having our big push on Piñata starting Jan. 1, but have sold thousands of cases already.”
The Piñata’s success story mirrors a positive image for the company’s fleshy apple manifest, comprised of both conventional and organic product.
Sun Coast Sales and Sun Coast Texas to become Sun Coasts Farms
Sun Coast Farming, Sun Coast Sales and Sun Coast Texas will start the year with a new name: Sun Coast Farms LLC .
According to Sonny Smith, owner of the company, the change is designed to take advantage of the synergies of the three entities, and a new logo and additional brands are planned as well.
C&S Wholesale Grocers names Mark Verdi president
C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. announced the appointment of Mark Verdi, an experienced global finance and operations executive, as president, a new position at the C&S. Verdi will assume his responsibilities March 1.
A native of Springfield, VT, Verdi joins C&S from Bain Capital, where he was a managing director and co-head of the private investment firm’s Global Portfolio Group, which works with the management teams of the businesses it owns to define and execute growth strategies, enhance their operations and improve organizational effectiveness.
Kevin Yost named president of Earthbound Farm
The WhiteWave Foods Co. announced that Kevin C. Yost will join WhiteWave’s newly acquired Earthbound Farm business as president, effective immediately. Charlie Sweat, previously chief executive officer of Earthbound Farm, will move into an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition. The rest of the Earthbound Farm management team will continue to serve in their current roles.
California Giant celebrates new year with new acreage, challenges
As 2013 came to a close, California Giant Berry Farms was already into the 2014 fresh berry season on many fronts. With multiple growing regions and berry types, harvest seasons overlap, resulting in no real end or beginning to berry season each year. However, the new year will result in increased berry volume over 2013 and additional acreage.
Potandon Produce offers on-pack coupons for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Potandon Produce is teaming up with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on its upcoming release of its new animated comedy, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
Schnucks buys Columbia Centre Market Place in Illinois
Leaders of St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets Inc. joined with Joseph (Joe) Koppeis to announce the Schnucks purchase of Columbia Centre Market Place Inc., a Koppeis family enterprise in Columbia, IL.
“In this, our 75th anniversary year, we are thankful to area customers whose support has enabled us to expand into new areas,” said Schnucks Chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck. “Schnucks remains committed to introducing more customers to our distinctive combination of quality, value and service.”
Hess Bros. apple crop up about 20 percent over 10-year average
On Dec. 17, Fred Hess, co-owner of Hess Bros. Fruit Co. in Lancaster, PA, told The Produce News that the company’s crop condition at the current time was basically where he expected it to be.
“We still have quite a lot of fruit to get through,” said Hess. “We will pack all through the summer, which is exactly what we like to do. We’ll be packing this crop right up until we start harvesting the next one.”
Stephen Colbert making Super Bowl debut with Wonderful Pistachios
Wonderful Pistachios announced that Stephen Colbert, Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," will star in two Super Bowl spots for the nation's leading pistachio grower. This will be Wonderful Pistachios' second consecutive Super Bowl appearance and will kick-off a new, full-year agreement with Colbert under the campaign theme, "Get Crackin', America."