Splendid executive believes mangos still have untapped potential
Total U.S. mango imports have grown 400 percent over the last two decades, and even over the past five years they are increasing at an average rate of 5 percent per year.
While this is good news, longtime importer Larry Nienkerk, president of Splendid Products LLC in Burlingame, CA, believes there is still untapped potential.
He has been selling mangos in the United States for 37 years and has seen a tremendous change during that time. He said that mangos have gone from an exotic, specialty crop to a staple sold in virtually every market in the United States.
GM Produce Sales hires retail specialist for mango sales
GM Produce Sales LLC, which is among the larger importers of Mexican mangos into the United States, has added a new retail specialist and expects to increase its volume by close to 20 percent.
JoJo Shiba, who heads the Los Angeles office for the Hidalgo, TX-based firm, announced the hiring of mango industry veteran Tom Argyros as the western retail specialist. Mr. Argyros has been in the produce industry for more than two decades and has been concentrating on mango sales since 1995.
Jim Stewart joins Prime Harvest
California-based fresh produce company Prime Harvest hired Jim Stewart as vice president of sales. Mr. Stewart joins Prime Harvest with more than 30 years of experience in the Californian fresh produce industry, having most recently held the positions of president and sales manager at WesPak.
Cal Poly and California Strawberry Commission form multidisciplinary partnership
The California Strawberry Commission in Watsonville, CA, and California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, announced in late February the formation of a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary partnership and the creation of the new Strawberry Sustainability Research & Education Center at Cal Poly made possible by a $1 million gift from the strawberry industry.
Pompano State Farmers Market stepping up to a new era with fresh mentality
Joe Swick, senior market manager for the Pompano State Farmers Market in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that the market is in the process of moving into a new era with a fresh mentality.
"We are dealing with major issues today in ways that will better serve the community and the environment," said Mr. Swick. "As our tenants have also evolved over the years to be more community minded and environmentally aware, we are working together to make the market an ideal place to work and to serve."
New facility in Kingsburg positions Homegrown Organic Farms for future growth
Homegrown Organic Farms, an organic fresh produce marketing company based in Porterville, CA, that represents over 3,500 acres of organic produce, has positioned itself for future growth with the purchase of a new facility in Kingsburg, CA, where it will consolidate all shipping and packing operations for fruit originating in the San Joaquin Valley.
Calavo’s ripe and bag business continues to grow as avocado volume increases
“We are definitely growing” in avocado sales, said Rob Wedin, vice president of fresh sales and marketing at Calavo Growers Inc. in Santa Paula, CA. “We are combining our focus on sales of avocados from Mexico and California avocados, and both sources have a good crop. Both sources have a larger crop than they have had for some time.”
Wish Farms has become a major player in Florida blueberry deal
Wish Farms President Gary Wishnatzki has been a leader in establishing the Florida blueberry industry, and he sees it continuing to mature and grow.
Mr. Wishnatzki is the third-generation leader of a family business that was around as Florida’s strawberry business began to boom and mature in the 1930s. He believes blueberries are following that same curve.
U.S. Potato Board's Tim O'Connor to head new Avocados from Mexico marketing group
Tim O’Connor, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Potato Board in Denver, has accepted an offer to lead a marketing agency dedicated to the Mexican avocado industry, formed jointly by the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association and the Association of Mexican Avocado Producers & Packers.
Produce industry recognizes outgoing USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan
WASHINGTON — The produce industry is losing a top supporter at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Kathleen Merrigan announced she is resigning as deputy secretary.
A vocal champion of the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, Ms. Merrigan is best known for advocating USDA programs that support local and regional farmers, though she had a hand in many programs throughout her tenure. As deputy secretary, she oversees the day-to-day operation of USDA and spearheads the $149 billion USDA budget process.