Caraveo Papayas putting a major dent into the U.S. papaya movement
“Our family has been growing papayas in Colima, Mexico, for over 20 years,” Edgar Millan, general manager for Caraveo Papayas Inc., located on Randall Avenue in the Bronx, NY, told The Produce News. “We handle some other items, such as limes and mangos, but our primary focus is on the Maradol and the Tainung varieties of papaya.”
The company imports its products through McAllen, TX, and from there they are distributed primarily to the Northeastern United States, although a portion is shipped as far west as San Francisco and numerous areas in between.
Walla Walla sweet onion growers on firm footing with 2013 crop
Favorable weather in Washington state has given Walla Walla sweet onion growers there a leg up during the 2013 production season. "So far, so good," said Mike Locati, chairman of the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee. "Everything is in the ground, and everything is looking good."
Farm Fresh Produce bringing home 60-70 acres of Napa cabbage in North Carolina
Farm Fresh Produce is touting its cabbage program this season, especially the company's Napa production, which is in full swing.
M & R Tomato continues to be a rock-solid generational family business
M & R Tomato Distributors Inc., located on the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market in the Bronx, NY, offers a full line of fresh, high-quality produce.
The company specializes in gas green tomatoes, roma tomatoes, cherry and grape tomatoes, and it also handles vine-ripened and greenhouse tomatoes. In addition to tomatoes, it handles potatoes, onions, citrus, lettuce, peppers, squash, eggplant and more.
Denise Goodman is the vice president of M&R Tomato Distributors. She partners with her brother, Michael Tambor, in overseeing the company’s operations.
D’Arrigo Bros. sticks with items it knows and does best
Matthew D’Arrigo, vice president of D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York Inc., located at the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market, told The Produce News that the company calls itself a full line house of fresh fruits and vegetables, which makes it difficult to find new things to add to its already extensive list of products.
“We like to stick with items that we know and do best with,” said Mr. D’Arrigo. “We’re not interested in specialty or high maintenance items.”
S. Katzman’s new ‘Bloom Fresh’ label making a major impact at market
“We have always handled potatoes and onions,” Stefanie Katzman, the fourth generation family member to work for S. Katzman Produce Inc. told The Produce News. “But we have expanded our vendor base and we now have a staff member who is solely dedicated to overseeing purchasing and management of the program. That category really took off when we developed our own ‘Bloom Fresh’ label that we use along with the ‘Grown in Idaho’ potato stamp.”
Present day Johnny Appleseed: Jim Allen
John Chapman (Sept. 26, 1774 – March 11, 1845), an American legend known widely as Johnny Appleseed because of his work as a pioneer nurseryman, introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and counties in present day West Virginia. He is sighted as having been kind, generous and strong in conservation leadership.
While “Mr. Appleseed” apparently never got his apple seeds in the ground in New York, there is someone at the apple helm there today — Jim Allen — who sounds a lot like him.
Exp Group continues to strengthen its processed banana business
Emil Serafino, vice president of the Exp Group LLC, in North Bergen, NJ, told The Produce News that the company is a leading grower, shipper and supplier of tropical products to New York and surrounding areas. The company’s line is very strong on processed bananas.
“Bananas and plantains are our biggest items,” said Mr. Serafino. “We have numerous ripening rooms and we continue to add new rooms over time.”
The Exp Group uses numerous labels on its wide variety of tropical fruits and vegetables.
Auerbach always searching out new products for its specialty line
Bruce Klein, director of marketing for Maurice A. Auerbach, now located in its new facility in Secaucus, NJ, told The Produce News that looking at new items to potentially add to the company’s already extensive line of specialty produce simply makes sense.
“A line such as ours has its own synergy,” said Mr. Klein. “It just makes sense to continue with the line that we have established over the years and that is very solid today. We look for items that make sense and compliment that synergy.”
Nathel & Nathel adding new labels, programs to its ‘wheelhouse’ of existing top brands
“We are excited about adding a few new labels and programs to our wheelhouse of existing top brands,” Ira Nathel, president and owner of Nathel & Nathel Inc., located in the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY, told The Produce News.
“We know that there is only one way to stay at the top in this business, and that is to always handle the best produce,” he continued. “Price is secondary, quality is first and foremost. Premium produce and a stellar staff are what make Nathel & Nathel the best produce company in the market.”