Alsum Farms & Produce has seen tremendous growth
FRIESLAND, WI — Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc., located in a sparkling new 200,000-square-foot office, packinghouse and warehousing facility here, has seen remarkable expansion into many parts of the produce industry.
Heidi Randall, marketing manager for the firm, is very proud to describe the company’s success, which has been led by her father, Larry Alsum. Also in the family business is Larry’s other daughter, Wendy Alsum, who is the firm’s financial analyst.
1848 stagecoach stop now a center for potato marketing
MUKWONAGO, WI — Even more colorful than “Mukwonago” — the name of the town hosting Bushmans’ Inc. Milwaukee-area office — is the office itself. This potato company’s suburban office was once a stagecoach stop.
Rosholt, hours north in Wisconsin’s hinterlands, is Bushmans’ headquarters.
Michael Gatz, new business director, and Bushmans’ salesman Jim Stefan, were just beginning to settle into the new office when The Produce News stopped in.
The Fresh Wave adds to its year-round blueberry program
VINELAND, NJ — Persistent rains in many sections of the eastern United States, including New Jersey, have cut into volume and quality of many produce items so far this summer, according to Skip Consalo, president of The Fresh Wave.
“It’s been a challenging year,” Consalo told The Produce News near the end of August. “Weather across the whole East Coast” has been a challenge. “We’ve seen rainstorms one after another after another. Weather has been the story of the year.”
Lower volume at the auction so far, thanks to summer rains and heat
VINELAND, NJ — Rain and heat during the summer have cut into volume in southern New Jersey, a scenario that has been reflected at the Vineland Produce Auction, here.
“Volume is lower [so far this summer] because of the weather,” the auction’s Carol DeFoor told The Produce News on a bright and sunny Thursday morning, Aug. 15. “As of now, volume is down about 20 percent from last year.” She added, “Dollar-wise, prices are higher because volume is less.”
Bob Donio: Rain and heat have hurt New Jersey crops
HAMMONTON, NJ — Persistent rain and bursts of heat during the summer of 2013 have adversely affected many crops in New Jersey, cutting into both volume and quality, according to Bob Donio, vice president at Frank Donio Inc., a grower, shipper and distributor of a full line of fresh produce.
“We’ve been subject to the elements,” Donio told The Produce News Thursday morning, Aug. 15 at the company’s headquarters here in southern New Jersey. Over the course of the summer, “we got a lot of rain, then a lot of heat, then we got more rain.”
CMI introduces sweet gourmet pears
CMI, a leading Washington state grower-shipper of premium quality conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, is rolling out its new Sweet Gourmet Pear program.
Idaho potato industry enjoys relaxing time on the links
Social and networking opportunities are typically a big part of the lineup during the Idaho Grower Shippers Association's annual convention in Sun Valley, ID, and this year was no different as members of the industry enjoyed a round of golf Aug. 30 following the morning business session during the organization's 85th annual meeting.
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Monitoring experts Locus Traxx spreading out globally by land and sea
Since 2005, Jupiter, FL-based Locus Traxx and its proprietary monitoring technology have helped save thousands of loads and millions of dollars in at-risk revenue throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada, maintaining complete records of the journey of any shipment of produce. Now the company has plans to move beyond those borders and is taking its technology worldwide.
DNE World Fruit enjoying strong summer citrus program
“We expect our summer citrus season to wrap up in mid-November with South African Midknights and late mandarins,” said Dan Schatz, general manager for DNE World Fruit LLC, headquartered in Fort Pierce, FL. “In the meantime, we’re in full swing with our other summer citrus programs.”
WPVGA engaged at many levels
ANTIGO, WI — Dana Rady’s title of director of promotion, communication and consumer education suggests a long list of responsibilities for the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, headquartered here.
Previously a Rhinelander, WI, television news anchor, Rady took the industry position in September 2012. As she describes WPVGA’s work, it does, indeed, reflect a wide range of services her office provides for the Wisconsin industry.