Quick response code movies are second business for Bloomaker
“Lights, camera, action!” the Mark Viettes Daylily is ready for her close-up. The director watches from the back of the studio as the cameras roll. Joep Paternostre, sans beret, hears the cameras click as they take photos of Madame Daylily, who is not a Hollywood star, but a gorgeous yellow lily.
IFE to draw more than 200 exhibitors, 1,500 attendees to Miami Beach show
“We are thrilled with the turnout for the show thus far,” said Bob Callahan, show manager for the International Floriculture Expo, on May 20. “With four weeks to go before show time, the number of exhibits has already surpassed last year’s level,” he added, noting more than 200 exhibitors have signed up already and attendance is expected to reach 1,750.
O’Hare perishables hub team gets things done the Chicago way
“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not themselves be realized.” That credo is attributed to Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, who transformed a desolate area on the city’s South Side into the White City for the 1893 Columbian Exposition, then made the nation’s first citywide plan for growth for Chicago in 1909.
Bill Tanner senior VP of finance at Kingston
Idaho Falls, ID-based Kingston Cos., the parent company of Kingston and Associates Marketing, promoted BILL TANNER to senior vice president of finance.
Mr. Tanner first joined Kingston in 2000 as assistant controller and has nearly 20 years of accounting, auditing, tax and business advisory experience.
Plans to renovate its packaging room are in place at The Garlic Co.
“In the coming months, we plan to renovate our existing packaging room,” said Michael Layous, sales and marketing representative for The Garlic Co. headquartered in Bakersfield, CA. “We hope the upgrade will offer not only a more spacious working environment, but also enable us to handle a greater volume of output.”
Robt. T. Cochran & Co. now offering delivery services in tri-state area
Richard Cochran, president of Robt. T. Cochran & Co., told The Produce News that the company hired Guy Russo about three months ago.
“Guy is working in sales for us,” said Mr. Cochran. “He is an old-time fruit salesman who is a market veteran. He’s been in the business for several decades.”
The company occupies four and a half units at Hunts Point Terminal Market. It is now celebrating 120 years in business, and it has been on the terminal market since it opened in 1967.
Mr. Cochran’s great-grandfather, Robert, founded the company.
Mango board preps for continued strong volume
Based on current projections, the National Mango Board is estimating a fairly similar flow of mangos from Mexico in the May through August timeframe. The projected volume for those four months is approximately 42.1 million boxes, which compares favorably to the 41.4 million boxes that were imported in 2012 from our closest southern neighbor.
Bleak picture painted for improving importing process
SAN DIEGO — Several industry experts said that because of budgetary constraints, there is no reason to expect anything but increased delays at ports of entry when trying to import fresh produce into the United States.
A tremendous increase in imports over the last decade has not led to a corresponding increase in inspectors, facilities or even efficiencies to handle the increase. In addition, new federal regulations, including the yet-to-be-released import rules associated with the Food Safety Modernization Act, have led to what seems sure to be an unfunded mandate.
Freshway Foods introduces super food salads
Freshway Foods, a fresh fruit and vegetable processor, repacker, distributor and logistics provider based in Sidney, OH, introduced several new super food salads at United Fresh 2013 in San Diego.
Featured at the show were new salads containing Brussels sprouts, kale, mango and healthy grains, such as rainbow quinoa.
Fairly normal starting date for Vineland Produce Auction
VINELAND, NJ — The Vineland Produce Auction opened “a little later this year than last year because of the weather,” according to the auction’s Carol DeFoor. The long-running auction opened the 2013 season on April 26, about two weeks later than last year’s extremely early start but pretty much in line with historical norms, she noted.
“Volume is picking up. We started squash today,” she told The Produce News May 14. “We have the greens, asparagus, all the lettuces.” She was expecting “substantial” volume on many items by around June 3.