Nature Fresh 'Sweet Temptations' tomatoes now available in multi-variety packs
With more consumers looking for healthy food options, demand for food that is tasty and good for you is on the rise. In the midst of that kind of market, Nature Fresh Farms is promoting its specialty category of grape tomatoes that come in a convenient packaging and are branded under the "Sweet Temptations" line.
Southern Specialties celebrating its first full year with SQF certification
“We received our SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification in the past year,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “And we have expanded in other ways. Our foodservice, retail and club store customer banks have been added to with outstanding customers. And we have expanded our capacity to provide 365-day-a-year service.”
Southern Specialties is currently shipping asparagus out of Mexico and Peru. Asparagus from Peru is currently seasonally light.
New York Apple growers coming back stronger than ever in 2013
“We have had a rough year because of the weather-related damage to our 2012 apple crop in New York,” Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, headquartered in Fishers, NY, told The Produce News. “But we are coming back strong this year. And we plan to be very aggressive in our markets this year. We are already working on regaining those markets that we were displaced in because we did not have normal volumes last year, and we are going to get them back.”
Taking another look at invisible shrink
In my last article titled “Are you overlooking invisible shrink,” I discussed the fact that retailers measure shrink primarily at the store level. From the moment product arrives at the store until it is sold, management holds produce managers accountable for their shrink.
At Ruiz Sales, looking out for families is part of corporate culture
PHARR, TX — At Ruiz Sales, families are at the forefront of the company’s mission to provide healthy and safe food.
Richard Ruiz, president of the Edinburg, TX-based distributor of tropical items from Mexico, believes that it is incumbent on the industry to provide fresh, safe and traceable produce to consumers at all times. And proper protocols must be followed at all levels of the supply chain in order to accomplish that goal.
Humanitarian efforts play key role at Continental Fresh
“We are excited about many things; one being our revamped website which was launched just one week ago,” Albert Perez, managing member of Continental Fresh, headquartered in Miami, FL, told The Produce News March 7. “The site, www.continentalfresh.com, describes our product line and our services. It also shares information about our growers, and it tells the story of our ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
Ag Leadership Council receives Hero Award for donations to medical foundation
The Agricultural Leadership Council in Salinas, CA, whose members include many high-profile produce company executives, received the 2013 Hero Award from the Natividad Medical Foundation in recognition of more than $800,000 in donations made by members over several years, including more than $200,000 during January and February of this year, to purchase needed medical equipment for Navidad Hospital in Salinas.
Supervalu completes sale of five grocery banners
Supervalu Inc. completed the sale of its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies March 21 to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management L.P.-led investor consortium. The stock deal was valued at $3.3 billion, including $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt assumption.
New DRC website aims to prevent disputes
The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp. launched a new website, FVDRC.com, as part of its renewed focus on Keeping Trade on Track through dispute prevention education.
The new site is designed to better align with recent rebranding and marketing efforts, and offers better access to information to help prevent disputes from happening in the first place. FVDRC.com will enable visitors to quickly call up reference tools such as the active DRC members list, standards, guidelines and form templates.
George A. Heimos Produce century-old reputation is well-earned, deserved
One hundred years and four generations later, George A. Heimos Produce is well aware of the formula for its success. “Over the years, we’ve always prided ourselves in selling service first and produce second,” President James Heimos Sr. told The Produce News March 8. “To this day we maintain George’s belief that ‘Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.’ ”