Oppy promotes four on sales team
Oppy is ringing in the new year with the announcement of four sales promotions.
Garland Jaeger, Derek Lenko, Matthew Giddings and Leslie Germain have taken on new roles aimed at growing customer relationships and creating new business for the Vancouver-based full-service produce marketer and distributor, according to David Smith, senior vice president of sales and categories.
Alpine Fresh announces joint venture with Florida blueberry grower
Alpine Fresh Inc., a grower-packer-shipper of blueberries headquartered in Miami, announced that it has entered into a joint venture with blueberry grower Five Star Family Growers, based in Auburndale, FL.
Beginning in March, Alpine Fresh and Five Star will begin packing Florida-grown blueberries in a brand new, state-of-the-art packing facility. The new blueberry packingshed will be built from the ground up and will mark the beginning of the partnership.
Erickson takes helm at Texas association
The Texas International Produce Association announced that Bret Erickson has been named president and chief executive officer of the association, effective Jan. 7.
John McClung, who formerly held the top spot at TIPA, will continue to work with the organization and focus on leading the Border Issues Management Program initiative.
‘Honeybear Brands’ Washington apple crop one of largest and best in many years
Wescott Agri Products, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, markets its Washington state apples under the “Honeybear Brands” label. The company is responsible for marketing apples and pears from Crane & Crane Orchards and from Honeybear Growers Fruit, both located in Brewster, WA.
Don Roper, vice president of Wescott Agri Products, said that the “Honeybear Brands” label is the company’s national marketing label on fruit produced only in Washington.
New storage boosts capacity for Associated Potato Growers
A new storage facility constructed by Associated Potato Growers Inc. in Grand Forks, ND, became operational this past October. Manager Paul Dolan said the storage increased capacity by 60,000 hundredweight of potatoes.
RPE introduces 'Old Oak Farms' brand for potatoes and onions
RPE, a grower-shipper of potatoes and onions located in Bancroft, WI, has introduced a new name to its family of brands: "Old Oak Farms." This will be the core commodity brand for the company moving forward and will be widely available this year.
Apple stats provide snapshot of highly successful season for Domex
Statistics gathered by Domex Superfresh Growers provide positive trigger points for a successful season for the 2012-13 apple crop.
“The industry, through Dec. 1, has shipped over five million more boxes of apples — or 20 percent more apples — than the same period last year. Domex has a record crop with volume up over 30 percent when compared to last year’s crop,” Vice President of Marketing Howard Nager told The Produce News on Dec. 12. “From Sept. 1 through Dec. 1, Domex has sold over 25 percent of our annual crop.”
Grant Family Farms, Colorado's first certified-organic farm, files bankruptcy
Grant Family Farms Inc., headquartered in Wellington, CO, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection Dec. 28, 2012. The company, which has farmed for 61 years, grows a host of organic commodities and is an organic Community Supported Agriculture farm.
"Ineligibility for crop insurance coupled with millions of dollars in damage from hail storms and drought — not to mention a massive spinach recall — has left the farm in a financial situation that it's been unable to overcome," the company said in a statement.
Kingston & Associates to expand Peru mango program
Kingston & Associates Marketing LLC, based in Idaho Falls, ID, announced the expansion of its Peruvian mango import program for the 2013 season, noting a 60 percent increase in production over last year's campaign.
The move comes after a very successful Ecuador program where the company experienced strong sales and good customer acceptance of the "Kingston" branded fruit.
The Perishable Specialists help move fresh fruits and vegetables
The Perishable Specialist Inc., headquartered in Miami, is a customs broker that is completely dedicated to fruits and vegetables. Ana Ramos, co-owner with her husband Frank, said that a broker that handles fresh produce exclusively serves the importer best because every ounce of effort is concentrated within the produce industry.
“Our company is the epitome of a streamlined process, and we are solely dedicated to fruits and vegetables, which represent 99.9 percent of our day-to-day business,” said Ms. Ramos. “We are more efficient because we are true perishable specialists.”