Fourth generation sets the bar high at Ben B. Schwartz
Since opening its doors in 1906, Ben B. Schwartz Inc., located on the Detroit Terminal Market, has been on the cutting edge. “The railroad decided to build a terminal market in Detroit,” said Chief Operating Officer Nate Stone. “Ben B. received the first load that ever arrived at the terminal.”
Accomplished asparagus sales manager joins Progressive Produce
Cruz Carrera has joined Progressive Produce, a Los Angeles-based grower-packer-shipper, as sales manager in the asparagus sales department.
Carrera was previously working for Mission Produce Inc. in its asparagus sales company, Mission Asparagus LLC. Carrera joins Progressive Produce as a result of the recent acquisition of Mission’s asparagus business, which was completed last month.
USA Onions to host Weber Grill Master Kevin Kolman at Nov. 16 BSU Grill-Off
The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee-USA Onions announced on Nov. 11 that Weber Grill Master Kevin Kolman will make a special appearance at the Nov. 16 USA Onions pre-game Boise State/Wyoming grilling competition at Boise State University.
BSU Broncos host the University of Wyoming Cowyboys, and USA Onions Marketing Director Sherise Jones said the match-up between two Western state teams promises to be exciting.
Hathaway named FPAA Pillar of the Industry
RIO RICO, AZ — Robert Hathaway, a former head of the West Mexico Vegetable Distributors organization, was named FPAA Pillar of the Industry Nov. 8 during the 45th annual Fresh Produce Association of the Americas convention, here.
In recognizing Hathaway as a Pillar of the Industry, Alejandro Canelos, chairman of the FPAA, cited Hathaway's ability to open doors for the association with his experience and connections.
Bruce Taylor elected chairman of Western Growers
Bruce Taylor, president of Taylor Farms California Inc. in Salinas, CA, was elected chairman of the board of Western Growers for the next 12 months at the group's 88th annual meeting, held in Honolulu Nov. 10-13.
Food Lion reopening 169 updated stores
Food Lion has made significant investments in 169 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina and created 500 new jobs. Key markets include Greenville and Wilmington, NC, as well as Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Florida set for a fine fall, but Sunshine State produce landscape changing as players rise and fall
Though parts of the state are drier than normal, Florida is in good shape as its fall and winter vegetable and citrus programs ramp up this month.
Henry Avocado grows as import numbers rise
The steady rise in offshore avocado production has allowed Henry Avocado to enjoy a similar climb in numbers with its customer base. From the 2007 levels of 970 million to the present, Phil Henry, president of Henry Avocado, calculates the combined imports from Mexico, Chile and Peru have increased at the rate of 10 percent per year.
Del Rey expands organic avocados out of Mexico
In February, with the 2013 California avocado season just getting under way, Robert (Bob) Lucy, president of Del Rey Avocado Inc. in Fallbrook, CA, told The Produce News that organic avocados have become “a very big part of our business.” That is true not just with California avocados but with imported product the company handles as well.
With the 2013-14 Mexican avocado season now under way, Lucy said Oct. 14 that Del Rey Avocado is building its organic volume out of Mexico. “One of the things we are really working hard on is expanding our Mexican program,” he said.
Second greening case in two years not a cause for alarm in Texas' Rio Grande Valley region
In January 2012, Texas officials found the first confirmed case of huanglongbing — HLB or greening disease — in a grove near San Juan, TX. In October, a second case was confirmed in nearby Mission, TX.
The second discovery is not cause for alarm and in fact in some ways can be seen as a victory. While greening has decimated the Asian and Brazilian citrus industries and has destroyed thousands of trees in Florida, a coordinated approach to spraying for the psyllid that spreads the disease has kept it at bay to date in Texas.