Heeren Bros. announces ribbon cutting for $22 million facility
Heeren Bros. Inc. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 11. to celebrate the opening of its new $22 million state-of-the-art facility in Alpine Township, MI, and state legislators, township officials, contractors, vendors and neighbors toured Heeren's new 178,000-square-foot facility.
Jim Bair to take the helm as president and CEO for U.S. Apple Association
On the first workday of the new year, James (Jim) Bair will step into his newly appointed position as president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Apple Association, headquartered in Vienna, VA.
Florida strawberry industry looks to new varieties to maintain identity
About 90 years ago, farmers around Plant City, FL, located midway between Tampa and Orlando, discovered that the sandy soil within a 30-mile radius produced exceptional strawberries. An industry was born and in short order Florida was providing 95 percent of the U.S. winter strawberry supply.
NY Produce Show kicks off
The opening cocktail reception of the 2013 New York Produce Show & Conference drew a large and enthusiastic crowd Tuesday evening, Dec. 10, at the New York Hilton, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The trade show floor opened up Wednesday, Dec. 11.
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Sbrocco International to participate in USDA Quality Monitoring Program
Sbrocco International Inc., an importer of fresh produce based in Mt. Laurel, NJ, announced Dec. 10 that it will participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Quality Monitoring Program, effective immediately.
The QMP was developed to help buyers monitor the quality of the fruit and vegetable products they receive, handle, and/or produce. The program will provide Sbrocco with objective, third-party assessments of product quality based on official U.S. grade standards.
CPAC retains Rachael Flatt to promote Colorado spuds
Olympic figure skater Rachael Flatt will continue to promote potatoes grown in her home state of Colorado in an ongoing agreement with the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, said CPAC Assistant Director Linda Weyers.
Flatt, the 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Champion, also went on to place seventh in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Her skating accomplishments also include 2008, 2009 and 2011 national silver medals, and she was the 2008 World Junior Champion.
Perishable Specialist saw early Chilean fruit in mid-November
“From Chile we have started to see the early fruit by air into Miami,” Ana Ramos, co-owner with her husband Frank, of The Perishable Specialist Inc., headquartered in Miami, said Nov. 15. The company is a leading customs broker that is completely dedicated to fruits and vegetables.
“We have also seen an excellent flow of organic blueberries into the Northeast from Argentina,” she added. “Peruvian asparagus volumes for Thanksgiving are excellent and Guatemala is exporting all year.”
Steve Poindexter joins Sun Coast Farms as CEO
Steve Poindexter, who spent the last three years as director of business trade development and national accounts for Railex LLC and was previously a partner in Crown Jewels Marketing & Distribution LLC in Fresno, CA, has joined Sun Coast Farms Sales LLC as chief executive officer.
Sun Coast Farms, a grower-shipper-processor based in in Santa Maria, CA, is owned by Sonny Smith, who founded the company in 2003.
Former owner of Kegel's Produce dies
Mary L. Myers, the former owner of Earl P. Kegel Inc., which is now known as Kegel's Produce Inc., died Dec. 10. She was 88.
Ready Pac chairman emeritus dies
Seb Gertmenian, chairman emeritus of Ready Pac Produce and father of Ready Pac founder Dennis Gertmenian, dies Sunday, Dec. 8 at the age of 101.