Bari Produce has considerable new stone fruit acreage in production
“We will have a lot more peaches, plums and nectarines than we did last year” because of “new plantings that are coming on line for us,” Justin Bedwell, a partner at Bari Produce LLC in Madera, CA, said in an interview with The Produce News. In addition, the company has about 80 acres of apricots that will be in production this year “that we didn’t have last year,” he said. “Every year, we continue to have more parcels that are coming into production on apricots.”
Pinto Bros. says PWPM still a great place to do business
Inching near the end of the second year on the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, Pinto Bros. Inc. said that being on the cutting edge facility continues to be a highly positive experience.
The company moved to PWPM when it opened in June, 2011, and occupies units G-7 through G-9 in the “blue” section of the market. The sections are brightly color-coded with hanging banners to make it easy for visitors to find the companies they want to visit.
Study shows mango shoppers buy more groceries per trip
The National Mango Board has published the Mango FreshFacts Shopper Insights report, which shows that shoppers who buy mangos spend 40 percent more per grocery basket than other produce buyers.
The report, prepared by Nielsen-Perishables Group, details shopper behavior based on loyalty card purchasing data from more than 30 million U.S. households. The study highlights opportunities to expand mango penetration beyond niche consumers and to increase frequency amongst the top buying groups.
Some key findings of the study include:
New ethnic produce line at Nardella a quick and hot success
John Durante, president of Nardella Inc., located at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, told The Produce News that the company’s sales representative, Mike Reed, is leading the company’s new Ethnic produce program, and he’s doing an outstanding job at it.
“The program started about six months ago and has taken off incredibly well,” said Mr. Durante.
Mr. Reed said that he approached Mr. Durante about adding the line to the company’s already wide fruit and vegetable list of products last fall.
Homegrown Organic Farms expects growth in stone fruit program
Homegrown Organic Farms in Porterville, CA, has a slight increase of about 10 percent in its stone fruit-producing acreage this year as some of the company’s growers have moved out of other commodities and switched to stone fruit, according to Stephen Paul, sales manager for stone fruit, specialty fruit and grapes.
As young plantings mature, “we see the program growing nicely” with incremental annual increases over the next five to six years, he said.
Flavor Tree is increasing production of Emerald Beaut and ‘Verry Cherry’ plums
The Flavor Tree Fruit Co. LLC in Hanford, CA, which is the exclusive sales agent for Warmerdam Packing, is “so big in the cherry deal that we really don’t get going on the stone fruit deal until mid-June,” which is a bit later than some shippers in the industry, according to George Neves, national sales manager for Flavor Tree.
Once the company’s stone fruit program does get going, it is considerably heavier to peaches and nectarines than to plums, and stronger in yellow flesh peach and nectarine varieties than white flesh, at least until late summer and fall, he said.
Women's Fresh Perspectives Conference shatters registration goal
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The PMA Foundation For Industry Talent has a winner on its hands.
T.M. Kovacevich announces USDA food-safety certification
Fran Carfagno is the director of sales for T.M. Kovacevich International, and he also holds the title of director of food safety for T.M. Kovacevich-Philadelphia Inc. The two companies are separate entities, but both are owned by George Manos.
Mr. Carfagno told The Produce News that T.M. Kovacevich-Philadelphia received its U.S. Department of Agriculture Audit Program for GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and GHP (Good Handling Practices) in August of 2012.
PWPM helping to open new markets for Zambito Produce Sales
Chuck Zambito, owner of Zambito Produce Sales in West Deptford, NJ, told The Produce News that the company is reaping some of the benefits that the cutting edge Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market has brought to companies in the area.
Commission keeps eyes on the global prize
The California Blueberry Commission continues its work to expand its presence in the global marketplace.
“We are constantly looking at export market opportunities,” Executive Director Alexander Ott said. “South Korea and Australia are good prospects.”
The commission was created by an act of the California State Legislature and approved by a grower-shipper referendum. The commission is funded through grower assessment and reauthorized every five years. The next referendum will take place in 2015.