Fresh Results says health benefits of tropical fruits helping to drive the demand
Tropical fruits and vegetables have been a growth phenomenon in produce aisles and on foodservice menus for the past several years. Eric R. Crawford, president of Fresh Results LLC, headquartered in Sunrise, FL, believes the trend will continue into the future.
Quality and service drive growth in the pineapple category, Turbana Corp. says
There was a time not too far gone when fresh pineapple was a novelty in a grocery store. Consumers were not quite sure what to do with a product they were used to consuming from cans or atop a holiday ham. That has clearly changed. And now that shoppers are familiar with fresh pineapple, they need to be better educated about how to pick the best fruit, said Alan Dolezal, vice president of sales for Turbana Corp. of Coral Gables, FL, and its premium Fyffes Gold pineapple.
Tex Mex focuses on ‘Onion Care’ to bring best to retailers and foodservice
With quality and service being focal points for Tex Mex Sales LLC in Weslaco, TX, and a stated goal to deliver a perfect onion to retail and foodservice customers and consumers, father and son owners Marvin and Mike Davis have taken the company’s entire growing program under their wing.
While the company previously supplanted their onion supplies with contracts from other growers, the Davises now control all the acreage their product comes from.
The Onion House has an early start out of the gate
With just a single week of wintry weather and solid markets heading into the heart of the deal, The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, is primed for an excellent Texas onion season.
Texas onion deal coming on in great shape for Bland Farms
Sweet onion giant Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, is heading into what looks like an excellent Texas onion season and solid market that will set the table for its keystone Vidalia onion deal, according to Director of Sales John Cameron. It does not hurt that the company also owns Bland Distribution Services, in Donna, TX, just a few miles from the Mexican border.
Growth explosive for avocado products, Fresherized Foods
One trend contributing to the explosive growth of the avocado category can be summed up this way: Holy guacamole, it’s not just for Mexican food anymore. That, coupled with the positive message consumers have taken to heart about the health benefits of avocado consumption, is music to the ears of Fresherized Foods.
The company is headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, and markets its diverse and flavorful “Wholly Guacamole,” “Wholly Salsa” and “Wholly Queso” branded line to retail and foodservice customers. The line was created six years ago.
Carrot supplies to remain steady as consumption registers an uptick
With steady supplies rarely affected by weather, carrots are something of a hardware item in the produce department.
Eric Proffitt, sales manager for Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield, CA, said the forecast for this year’s spring deal from Imperial Valley will do nothing to alter that impression. “We just finished up the winter crop in Kern County and have moved to the Imperial Valley right on time,” he said Wednesday, Feb. 27. “The crop looks good and we expect supplies to be steady throughout the spring.”
Southern Exposure keynote speaker and football legend brings message of motivation
Lou Holtz, one of the most accomplished men in the history of college football, will be the keynote speaker at the Southeast Produce Council’s 10th annual Southern Exposure trade show in Orlando, FL, Feb. 28-March 2.
Coach Holtz piled up a career record of 249-132-7 and won a NCAA National Championship with Notre Dame in 1988.
With larger crop, California avocado harvest will be in good volume by mid-March
Hass avocados have generally been alternate bearing, so it is a bit unusual to have two large-volume crop years in a row. But last year's California avocado crop came in at about 460 million pounds, a substantial increase over the prior year, and an even larger crop is anticipated this year.
Philadelphia market staffer departs to start consulting firm
Tad Thompson, a veteran produce industry journalist who most recently worked as business development manager at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, announced that he has formed a new consultancy, Globalview Consulting LLC.