Del Rey Avocado remodels Fallbrook packinghouse
Del Rey Avocado Co. Inc. has recently completed “a major remodel” of its packinghouse in California, according to Robert (Bob) Lucy, president of the company.
Del Rey has been operating out of the same facility for many years, and had outgrown the existing space, but was unable to enlarge the facility’s footprint due to space restraints on the site. However, “we were able to go up quite a bit, and we basically doubled our storage, which is just wonderful,” he said.
Brooks Tropicals’ SlimCado brand green-skin avocados have another big-volume year
Brooks Tropicals LLC in Homestead, FL, has been growing “SlimCado” brand green-skin avocados for over 80 years in southern Florida. “Avocados are usually low volume one year, high volume the next. But these last couple of years have been more on the high side,” said Marketing Director Mary Ostlund in a written statement to The Produce News.
So far, the 2013 season is “looking good,” she said.
Mission Produce evolves toward vertical integration in all producing areas
Like many California-based avocado packing and marketing companies, Mission Produce Inc. in Oxnard, CA, handles avocados not just from California but from other producing areas as well. Unlike some other companies, Mission Produce has made an effort to become vertically oriented in its import as well as its domestic operations.
“I think we have evolved into being more vertically oriented in all sourcing areas, trying to get as much ownership close to the ground as possible,” said Ross Wileman, vice president of sales and marketing, in an interview with The Produce News.
Hass Avocado Board continues focus on nutrition research and nutrition marketing
The Hass Avocado Board, which represents growers and importers of Hass avocados in the U.S. market, has for about the past year and a half been focusing primarily on nutrition research and nutrition marketing “in a way that supports the category as a whole,” according to Emiliano Escobedo, executive director of the board.
Worldwide avocado popularity benefiting Henry’s customers
ESCONDIDO, CA — Perhaps overlooked in 2013’s rising numbers of global avocado productivity, is that a similar surge is occurring in the fruits’ worldwide popularity. And it’s benefiting the domestic market in two significant ways.
West Pak sources avocados from four major regions for U.S. market
Sourcing a “global supply of avocados” from the regions that supply the U.S. market “is one of our organization’s top priorities,” said Doug Meyer, vice president of sales and marketing at West Pak Avocado Inc. in Murrieta, CA, in an interview with The Produce News.
Digital marketing isn’t that difficult, expert says
An expert on digital marketing tried to demystify the subject during a seminar session at the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference in Monterey, July 26-28.
Carisa Miklusak, who is the chief executive officer of New York-based tMedia, with that company name standing for “transmedia,” told the audience of foodservice operators and suppliers that their digital brand marketing should merely be an extension of their offline marketing program. “Define who you are offline before launching a digital campaign,” she said.
Washington Grown to tell state’s agriculture story
A collaborative program bringing the Washington State Potato Commission, farmers, and ranchers together will increase awareness about agriculture in the Evergreen State.
NEPC shifts date of annual expo
The New England Produce Council is moving the date of its annual expo, from spring to fall, beginning in 2014.
The NEPC Produce & Floral Expo traditionally has been held in the early spring. The 14th expo was held April 2-3, 2013, for example.
But the 2014 expo will be held in the fall, according to NEPC Executive Director Laura Sullivan, who said that the exact date and venue will be announced in late August or September. The council then will continue to hold its expo in the fall on an annual basis, she added.
Monterey Mushrooms: Sales continue strong through summer
Joe Caldwell, vice president of Monterey Mushrooms Inc., headquartered in Watsonville, CA, said that the company’s new innovations in the past few years continue to build traction and are truly national in distribution now.