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.
Teri Trost joins Gills Onions
Oxnard, CA-based Gills Onions announced Sept. 12 the addition of TERI TROST to its sales team.
Trost brings over 30 years of experience in foodservice sales management, customer service and marketing, as well as key account management to Gills Onions.
In the Trenches: Sometimes marketing overwhelms merchandising
Grocery store ad flyers that arrive in the newspaper every week are loaded with special items promoted at attractive prices. The front page of the ad generally represents red-hot specials with even much lower retails. Optional attractions such as coupons or buy-one-get-one-free promotions are attractions that help to entice consumer interest even more.
Locus Traxx Worldwide CEO presenting at Oracle Open World
A new face will be stepping into the ring Sept. 24, when David Benjamin, chief executive officer of logistics innovator Locus Traxx Worldwide, based in Jupiter, FL, joins Chris Baker, senior vice president of Worldwide ISV, OEM and Java Sales for Oracle, at Oracle Open World at the Fairmount Leader's Circle in San Francisco.
Hurricane Manuel causes crop losses, planting delays in Culiacan, Mexico
After leaving a death toll of at least 97 on the central coast of western Mexico early the week of Sept. 15, Tropical Storm Manuel continued up the coast and reached hurricane strength before making landfall once more on the coast of Sinaloa, bringing extensive storm damage to growing areas around Culiacan, a major growing area for tomatoes, squash and many other produce commodities marketed in the United States during the late fall, winter and early spring seasons.
Mastronardi partners with Pink Ribbon Produce for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Mastronardi Produce, based in Kingsville, ON, will once again be partner with the Pink Ribbon Produce Campaign for the month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.
Mastronardi's "Sunset" Campari cocktail tomato will be getting a pink makeover to bring awareness to breast cancer research and education as part of the program.
"We always look forward to working with Pink Ribbon Produce every year," Paul Mastronardi, president of Mastronardi, said in a press release. "It's a cause we fondly support and we always strive to advocate healthy lifestyles."
California table grapes shipped at record pace
California table grapes have been shipped at a record pace in recent weeks. According to USDA data through Sept. 13, five of the past six weeks have seen week-ending shipment totals of over 4 million boxes. Last year, only one week in the entire season surpassed 4 million.
"Grapes from California are in strong demand worldwide," Kathleen Nave, president of the Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission, said in a press release. "With nearly 45 million boxes shipped, the industry is on pace for another record crop year."
Calif. Date Administrative Committee will be busy in early 2014
The California Date Administrative Committee, a federal marketing order covering date growers in Riverside County (encompassing the date-growing regions of the Coachella Valley) will be participating in several high-profile local events in the Coachella Valley in 2014, concentrated in the months of January and February.
Bland Farms promoting new product lines in October
Sweet onion giant Bland Farms LLC of Glennville, GA, will have a lot to talk about at the Southeast Produce Council fall show Sept. 26-28 in Myrtle Beach, SC, as well as along the rest of the upcoming fall tradeshow trail — and the news is not all about onions.
Rick Urschel promoted at Urschel Laboratories
Urschel Laboratories Inc. promoted RICK URSCHEL from vice president of operations to president and chief executive officer of the company, effective Sept. 13.
“As I pass the leadership of the company on to Rick, I am fully confident in his abilities as the new president and CEO of Urschel Laboratories,” said Bob Urschel, president and CEO of the company for the past 30 years, who will remain actively involved with the company as chairman of the board.