Atlanta’s General Produce named Georgia Family Business of the Year
General Produce Inc. of Atlanta began more than 50 years ago as a purveyor of bananas and has since grown to become one of the Southeast’s larger distributors of produce — from apples to zucchini — with its own fleet of more than 100 trucks providing overnight delivery to 11 Southeastern states.
UGBP has new twin pack of Golden papayas
The Union of Growers of Brazilian Papaya, an organization that handles the export of Brazilian papayas from the region of Linhares in the state of Espirito Santo, has developed a new twin-pack clamshell for its Golden papayas.
C&C Produce hosts first annual Harvest to Market Open House
C&C Produce, a Kansas City, MO-based repacking and merchandising company, is hosting its first annual Harvest to Market Open House Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The open house, which gives restaurant owners, chefs, foodservice personnel and retailers a chance to talk directly to growers, will take place at C&C Produce’s facility at 1100 Atlantic Avenue, Kansas City.
Baley gratified by consumer acceptance of organic product
Hollis Baley, director of marketing for Klamath Basin Fresh Organics LLC, said she expected continuing demand and acceptance at the retail sector when it comes to organic product. “Business is good,” she told The Produce News. “I think people continue to buy organics because they know it’s better for them and the environment. Especially for root vegetables and other commodities with such delicate skins, what you put into the farming process is getting fully absorbed into the vegetable.
Bartolotta’s holiday spirit ignited by giving to those in need
Despite the ups and downs of business today, Bartolotta Inc. in Torrington, CT — under the guidance of Kevin Bartolotta, owner and president — has a strong reputation for being a major fundraiser and donor to needy causes.
Bartolotta’s charity efforts are well known among his colleagues, friends and associates across the country.
USA Onions, IPC part of all-Idaho foodservice promotion set in Chicago
An all-Idaho foodservice promotion featuring USA Onions and the Idaho Potato Commission, along with other agricultural producers and commodity commissions, is set for Feb. 20-21 in Chicago.
According to Sherise Jones, marketing director for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee/USA Onions, the promo will include a customer appreciation reception at Chef’s Burger Bistro in downtown Chicago as well as a Young Chefs Competition and foodservice reception at the prestigious Kendall College.
Sy Katz expanding acreage on all commodities in Georgia
“The gist of our business is simple,” said Owen Margolis, sales representative for Sy Katz Produce Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL. “We work with our growing partners year round and we have a strong supply chain from the Caribbean and from Mexico through Nogales.
“We follow the domestic seasons from Florida northward, and in the fall we work our way back south,” he added.
Sy Katz handles sales for Juniper Produce in Quincy, FL, Full House Farms in Clinton, NC, and Deep South Farms and Walt Carter Farms, which are both located in Lake Park, GA.
Florida produce adds to activity at the new CrowleyFresh facility
“As Florida’s fall produce season kicks into high gear, our new cold storage warehouse facility, CrowleyFresh, in Miami is busy handling an influx of locally grown seedless melons and other seasonal perishables,” said Eduardo Campos, the director of logistics for CrowleyFresh.
CrowleyFresh opened in Miami in early 2013. It is a joint offering by Crowley Maritime Corp., headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, and Customized Brokers, a customs brokerage company also located in Miami.
Brooks’ Ostlund: Tropicals are the new produce frontier
Consumers are getting more exploratory in the produce department, and this is good news for Brooks Tropicals LLC, headquartered in Homestead, FL. “North American consumers are adventuresome,” said Director of Marketing Mary Ostlund. “They love a frontier. And in the produce section, tropicals are the new frontier. [This is] particularly important with everyone upping the amount of fruit and veggies they’re eating. They want to eat more of the produce they love. But they want to be tempted to love more.”
Greengate Fresh stresses service to its hospitality business clients
It was just about four years ago that the partners in Greengate Fresh LLC in Salinas, CA, filed their incorporation papers and began to put their business plan in action. By April of 2010, the firm was selling bags of lettuce and other staple commodities to the foodservice industry.
“From the very beginning we put our focus on the foodservice or hospitality industry and that is still the major portion of our business,” said Jay Iverson, vice president of sales and marketing for the firm. “We do a little bit of club store business, but basically we stick to foodservice customers.”