Kitayama Bros.’ Valentine crop damaged by tornado
A weak tornado damaged greenhouses and destroyed about a fourth of the Valentine’s Day lisianthus crop Dec. 22 at Kitayama Bros., a cut-flower grower in Watsonville, CA. “It was a freak occurrence, [a waterspout that] came ashore on a Saturday morning, traveled about a mile and lasted only three minutes,” said Robert Kitayama, president and chief executive officer of the company.
TPIE draws 6,000 attendees to view exhibits, new products
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — An estimated 6,000 industry professionals attended the 40th annual edition of the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition Jan. 22-25 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Sponsored by the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association, the show had 400 companies exhibiting in 800 booths.
Flower Promotion Organization gives $900,000 to benefit trade
Bobbi Ecker of Florapros recalled seeing the billboards along highways in the Midwest promoting cut flowers. She spoke to a crowd where many wore yellow buttons proclaiming, “I help people express feelings with flowers!” Several in that audience at the 2011 International Floriculture Expo recalled hearing infomercials on research documenting the benefits of having flowers in the home.
Things look good for Valentine’s Day
At the end of January, things looked good for Valentine’s Day, one of the biggest floral sales holidays of the year. California was recovering from a cold and wet winter with plenty of flowers. There had been no big floods or freezes in Colombia and Ecuador. Shippers had laid on extra routes. Supermarkets and wholesalers had placed their orders.
Mabs named CEO at Homegrown Organic Farms
Scott Mabs has been named chief executive officer at Homegrown Organic Farms, an organic fresh produce marketing company, representing over 3,500 acres of organic produce based in Porterville, CA. He replaces Tom Avinelis, who has held the position since 2005, but who will now become more involved in the operations side of the business.
Organics Unlimited combines sustainability, social responsibility
“We are known mostly for organic Cavendish bananas, however we also handle organic coconuts organic plantains and organic red bananas year round,” said Mayra Velazquez de Leon, who, with her husband, Manuel, owns and operates Organics Unlimited, headquartered in San Diego. Ms. Velazquez de Leon is the company president, and Mr. Velazquez de Leon oversees buying.
Giorgio Fresh Co. offering a wide range of organic mushrooms
Giorgio Fresh Co. is a veteran of organic mushroom production. Bill Litvin, regional sales and national account manager for the Temple, PA-based company — a grower and shipper of fresh mushrooms — said Giorgio has produced and sold organic mushrooms for many years.
“Giorgio Fresh became a certified organic grower on March 11, 2004,” said Mr. Litvin. “We are certified organic by Pennsylvania Certified Organic. Giorgio is one of the larger domestic growers of organic mushrooms.”
Kevin Murphy, founder of Baldor Specialty Foods, dies at 58
Kevin S. Murphy, chief executive officer and owner of Baldor Specialty Foods headquartered in the Hunts Point section of New York City, died Jan. 31 at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 58.
PMA welcomes new PR manager
The Produce Marketing Association welcomed Ashley Boucher as the new public relations manager Jan. 1. Ms. Boucher brings experience in business-to-business communications and technical writing to the association’s public relations team.
Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers readies pears for China
On the heels of an announcement by Pear Bureau Northwest that U.S. pears have gained access to the Chinese market, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, located in Wenatchee, WA, is preparing to begin shipments.