To-Jo Mushrooms enters farm into conservation program
To-Jo Mushrooms has entered its 133-acre farm site located in Elk Township, PA, into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
Chester County Commissioners and the Chester Country Agricultural Land Preservation Board have preserved 29,834 acres of farmland throughout the county Country. The To-Jo farm site is the 343rd to enter into the programs for farmland preservation and the 91st to enter into the Challenge Grant Easement Purchase Program by selling the development rights.
HLB Specialties moves from one growing season to the next for year-round supplies
Homero Levy De Barros, president and chief executive officer of HLB Specialties LLC in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that the company is currently importing large and small papayas, mangos and limes.
“The rambutan season just wrapped up and will start again in March or April,” Mr. De Barros said. “We’re also moving avocados from Mexico and Peru.
Wayne E. Bailey’s 10-pound box of sweet potatoes a perfect holiday gift or donation
George Wooten, president of Wayne E. Bailey Produce Co., in Chadbourn, NC, is in a celebratory mood this year in celebration of its rebranding initiative. It has rebranded its line of sweet potatoes and other items from its past “Playboy” brand to the new “George Foods” brand, using Mr. Wooten’s father’s signature as its logo.
The company is also known for its generosity, especially during times of the year when people are most in need.
FPFC holiday luncheon generates record donation
CERRITOS, CA — The Fresh Produce & Floral Council's annual Holiday Luncheon & Charity Auction raised close to $60,000 for two very worthwhile programs: Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools and the Wounded Warrior Project.
The event, which was held Dec. 12 at the Sheraton Hotel, here, featured Celebrity Guest Auctioneer Frankie Avalon and industry auction hosts Kent Kuwata of Smart & Final and Bill Laliberte of WJL Distributors.
White Diamond Farms launches new Tasti-Lee salsas
White Diamond Farms, a sister company of Tomato Thyme Corp., based in Wimauma, FL, has launched a new line of salsas that utilizes the Tasti-Lee tomato variety.
Beginning the week of Dec. 17, customers were be able to purchase the line in Publix stores. The new Tasti-Lee salsas are available in three flavors of the fresh thick and chunky style: Mild Mannered, Happy Medium and Hot Tempered.
Mann Packing shipping French beans for the holidays
Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co., a leading supplier of fresh vegetables, is increasing shipment of its French bean items for the holidays.
Sales of the eight-ounce bag of washed, ready-to-eat French beans are growing, and the company is shipping promotional level volume through the holidays and into 2013.
Tavilla now Vision as firm increases direct grower deals in Mexico
Tavilla Sales Co. of Los Angeles, which is headquartered in Los Angeles with branch offices in Nogales and Phoenix, AZ, and which for about the past six years has had half ownership in New Jersey-based Vision Import Group, has changed its name to Vision Produce Co. The transition took place the beginning of September this year, according to John Caldwell, general manager of the company’s Arizona operations.
Bartolotta keeps on giving and giving
Kevin Bartolotta, president of Bartolotta Inc. in Torrington, CT, is a prime example of the generosity the produce industry typically displays, and his heart is as big as the moon when it comes to caring about people in need. Even when he’s in the middle of his day-to-day business of overseeing his company; a broker, distributor and logistics provider specializing in Western, Eastern and Southern vegetables, his mind is never far away from the next fundraiser he is organizing or donating to those in need.
Season's first Chilean fruit vessel arrives at port of Wilmington
Chilean Ambassador Felipe Bulnes, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Chile’s Exporters Association President Ronald Bown, Pacific Seaways Executive Director Francisco Labarca and Port officials welcomed this year’s first shipment of Chilean winter fruit to the U.S. onboard Pacific Seaways’ chartered refrigerated breakbulk vessel m/v Polarstream on Monday, Dec. 17.
Total Produce to acquire majority share of Oppy by 2017
Total Produce plc, located in Dublin, Ireland, announced Dec. 17 that it has brokered a deal to acquire a majority interest in The Oppenheimer Group, headquartered in Vancouver, BC.
Under the terms of the deal, Total Produce will control 65 percent of the company in a two-phase deal. In January, Total Produce will acquire 35 percent of Oppenheimer's shares. The remaining 30 percent of shares will be acquired in 2017 at a price based on future profits.