Vision Produce uses rare model to increase Mexican production
The three arms of Vision Produce Co. launched a new mango program a year ago, and this year it is paying dividends.
Ben Brittain, executive vice president of the Texas arm, which goes by the moniker Vision Produce Partners of Texas, is anticipating a 30 percent increase in Mexican mango volume this year.
He said the companies, which include Vision Produce Co. in Los Angeles and Vision Import Group in River Edge, NJ, have their own buyers and quality-control people in place in Mexico to implement the model.
Calavo Growers hires Stephan Eckel
STEPHAN ECKEL joined Santa Paula, CA-based Calavo Growers as senior account manager Feb.11.
Mr. Eckel first got his start in produce when the construction industry took a downturn in the late 80s, leading him to start working in a cooler in Oceanside, CA, for Calberi where he loaded trucks and learned to speak Spanish. Twenty-three years later, he is a produce industry veteran.
Retail View: A snapshot of the California retail scene
Analyzing scan data from almost 3,800 California supermarkets, the latest Market Report from the Fresh Produce & Floral Council showed that fresh fruit and vegetable sales volume grew by 4 percent in 2012 while there was a 1 percent increase in retail dollar sales.
Kern Ridge experiencing good growth with a variety of packs
Arvin, CA-based Kern Ridge Growers LLC has experienced good growth in its carrot operation over the past year for a variety of reasons, including diversity within its carrot offerings as well as the inclusion of navel oranges as a companion shipping item.
North Carolina’s Cottle Farms packing first Florida fruit under its own label this season
Cottle Strawberry Nursery Inc. in Faison, NC, has been in the berry business for three generations. This year it will enter the Florida blueberry deal with its own “Cottle Farms” label for the first time.
“We’ve brokered berries here for years but this will be our first year being in control of the fruit and picking where we want to go and when and how,” said President Ron Cottle.
The decision to get into the Florida blueberry deal was easy, Mr. Cottle said.
Westmoreland hires Jimmy Coppola
JIMMY COPPOLA joined Leamington, ON-based Westmoreland Sales’ TopLine team as an account manager in February.
In his new role, Mr. Coppola will be handling commodities such as greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, Bell peppers and a long line of specialty products. He also recently took on the marketing responsibilities for TopLine.
Florida blueberry industry already at crossroads as it matures
Florida’s blueberry industry came from a standing start to a significant present and an even more promising future in roughly a decade, but already the industry is at a crossroads of sorts. Smaller producers are falling by the wayside as major players and outside influences maneuver to propel the deal to the next level as the industry matures.
Growers, shippers wonder what future holds for Lone Star State’s ever-changing onion industry
Texas onion growers were riding high in 2010. Demand was strong and market prices for the season averaged $20-$40 for a 40-pound box for sweets throughout the deal. In 2011, growers put more onions in the ground, bringing Lone Star State onion production to 13,064 acres.
Rising Star Award presented at third annual ATPC
McAllen, TX – The Rising Star Award was presented to Ed Bertaud, the Houston-based director of business development for the Pallet Management Division of IFCO Systems N.A. Inc., March 8 during the America Trades Produce Conference, here.
Dorothy Koboski enters FirstFruits' sales intern program
DOROTHY KOBOSKI, who has worked for Yakima, WA-based FirstFruits Marketing of Washington for about two-and-a-half years as a sales assistant, is one of the first to go through the company’s recently implemented sales intern program. She will spend most of the year in transitional training to understand all aspects of growing, packing, warehousing and selling before graduating into actual sales responsibility.