Jasmine Vineyards ups production of Sweet Celebration, Scarlet Royal varieties
Jasmine Vineyards Inc. in Delano, CA, had its first commercial production of proprietary Sweet Celebration grapes last year. This year, the company will have increased production of Sweet Celebration, according to Jon Zaninovich, president of the company.
Sweet Celebration is a patented variety developed by International Fruit Genetics in Bakersfield, CA, of which Jasmine is a licensee.
Crown Jewels anticipates grape volume increase of about 20 percent
Crown Jewels Produce Co. in Fresno, CA, expects an increase of about 20 percent in its table grape volume out of the San Joaquin Valley of California during the 2013 season, according to Atomic Torosian, a partner in the company.
“We are up in our production this year” as a result of additional acreage coming into the program, Torosian said. Some of that additional acreage is on the company’s own ranch. “Crown Jewels is a grower of grapes” as well as a shipper.
He expects a total volume of around 1.2 million to 1.3 million packages out of California this year.
Blair Richardson named U.S. Potato Board president and CEO
The U.S. Potato Board, the nation's potato marketing organization and the central organizing force in implementing programs that will increase demand for potatoes, named produce industry veteran Blair Richardson as its president and chief executive officer, effective Aug. 1.
Fresh Fruit Cuts develops proprietary process to bolster stone fruit category
Fresh Fruit Cuts has launched Woot Froot, a line of expertly selected and processed fresh peaches and nectarines. The line, which caters to health-conscious consumers looking for value-added stone fruit, will be available through October in 2013, although the company is preparing for year-round availability in 2014.
Crunch Pak hires new CEO
Crunch Pak, a sliced-apples specialist, announced the hiring of Scott Sargent as its new chief executive officer.
He replaces Crunch Pak’s former CEO, John Graden, who will work side by side with Sargent through the end of the year, then become a member of the board and continue as director of raw product purchasing.
California apple producers fret over potential window overlap with early apple crop
Alex Ott, executive director of the California Apple Commission in Fresno, CA, told The Produce News that just about all California crops, including apples, are running about eight days early this year.
PMA taps 30-year retail veteran as president
Cathy Green Burns will join the Produce Marketing Association as president, effective Dec. 1, as part of its continuing restructure of the senior leadership team. In this new role, which further strengthens the staff’s blend of association management and industry expertise, Green Burns will focus initially on leading board and staff team development as well as lending her insight to business development activities.
Visionary Holt Logistics maneuvers to remain a few steps ahead of industry needs
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ — A few months ago, Leo Holt, president of Holt Logistics Corp. had a problem. As part of his Delaware River region operations, Holt runs the Gloucester Marine Terminal here. There, an ancient crane needed to come down to make way for a gleaming new $5 million mobile unit with many times the lifting capacity and much more versatility.
Demolition crews wanted a fortune — and a long timetable — for the project. Holt instead chose to turn to his best resource: his employees.
F-D-S now uses 99 percent recycled PET plastic, recycles waste heat
F-D-S Manufacturing Co. in Pomona, CA. which manufactures clamshells and other packaging for grapes and other produce, is now able to use about 99 percent recycled PET plastic in its manufacturing processes, according to President Robert (Bob) Stevenson.
In some cases, “we are able to run 100 percent recycled PET now,” he said.
In addition to using recycled products as feedstock for manufacturing, the company also enhances its environmental sustainability practices by recycling heat in its manufacturing processes.
More garlic in the market as California has good crop, China the largest in four years
The price differential between Chinese and California garlic is expected to be greater this year than it has been recently because of a larger Chinese crop than China has seen in the past three years. The California crop, expected to be up a little in volume from last year, is expected to be of very good quality with good yields, particularly on the California Early variety, which is the first variety harvested.