New Central Valley grape marketing firm opens
Peter Vallis, former partner in Farmer's Fresh Fruit Co. in Reedley, CA, and his wife, Demitra Vallis, have opened a new marketing company representing grape growers in California's Central Valley.
Called Empire Grape Co. LLC, the new entity, which officially launched Feb. 6, is based in Kingsburg, CA.
Handling sales for Empire Grape are Jay Stover and Susan Lucas.
Westmoreland bullish on prospects of greenhouse production
“Westmoreland Sales is a privately owned, leading year-round greenhouse grower and shipper with a very strong diversified customer base,” said Ken Green, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Westmoreland Sales in Leamington, ON. “We continue adding greenhouse space to our operation, and we are always looking to expand our customer base with good customers.”
Ecoripe Tropicals’ papaya program in full swing with high demand
Marc Holbik, director of grower relations for Ecoripe Tropicals in Medley, FL, told The Produce News that the company carries a widely diverse line of Asian fruits and vegetables. But it also imports a wide variety of tropical products from South and Central America.
JJ Distribution in Nogales shifts focus, launches Eastbound Logistics
JJ Distribution LLC in Nogales, AZ, a produce brokerage formed about seven years ago, has become increasingly involved in logistics over the years and somewhat less focused on buying and selling produce, according to Jose (Joe) Maytorena Jr., managing partner.
It got to where the company was doing more with transportation than with produce, so the decision was made to launch a new subsidiary company, Eastbound Logistics Co. The new entity was launched in early February.
Jose Maytorena Sr. is manager of the new company.
Mango Board to hold comprehensive food-safety seminar
On the heels of last year's food-safety issue, which resulted in the recall of thousands of cartons of mangos in the United States and Canada because of Salmonella Braenderup, the industry is hosting a Mango Food Safety Conference March 6 in McAllen, TX.
The all-day seminar will be held in the McAllen Conference Center just prior to the start of the America Trades Produce Conference & Expo, which is jointly sponsored by the Texas International Produce Association and the Nogales, AZ-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
Jersey Fresh campaign gets sports theme for 2013
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture premiered its new Jersey Fresh advertising campaign Feb. 7 during the annual state agricultural convention, with its sports-themed "Another Great Season."
Food-safety inspections would be reduced if March 1 budget cuts go into effect
WASHINGTON — With Congress butting up against the March 1 deadline for automatic, across-the-board budget cuts, the White House warned Feb. 8 that progress on the new food-safety law would be cut back and the Food & Drug Administration would have to conduct 2,100 fewer food inspections.
Peak of the Market opens new facility, helps children raise money
Manitoba-based Peak of the Market has opened a Calgary, AB, distribution center. The 24,000-square-foot facility was designed to handle the company’s Manitoba product. Half of the facility is being used for storage and re-grading, and the remainder is available on a fee-for-service basis for storage and cross docking.
“It’s our first time with a location in Alberta, and it’s a significant investment in growing our business and that of our growers,” said Larry McIntosh, president and chief executive officer.
W.D. Potato exceeds 400 million pounds of chipping potatoes
W.D. Potato Ltd., which has been in business for over 40 years, supplies more than 400 million pounds of potatoes annually to major chip manufacturers in Canada and the United States.
Mark VanOostrum, field manager for the Beeton, ON-based company, oversees more than 50 growers and 15,000 acres of chip-stock potato production.
The company contracts chipping potatoes in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Research project sees increase in mini tuber production
“A plantlet will generally produce 1.5 to three mini tubers per production cycle under normal greenhouse production practices,” said Terence Hochstein, technical director for the Potato Growers of Alberta. “The plantlets used in our research project have the opportunity to produce up to 10 mini tubers per production cycle.”
Mr. Hochstein is responsible for government programs, the environmental farm plan, environmental footprinting and Canada Gap-OFFS, and he spearheads research for the Alberta-based potato-grower organization.