Ahold USA names new vice president of produce and floral
Ahold USA announced Nov. 26 that David Lessard has been promoted to vice president of produce and floral, effective immediately.
LMTS to open office in Washington state
L&M Transportation Services Inc., a Raleigh, NC-based third-party logistics company, will establish a new Northwest transportation office, located in Othello, WA.
The new office will be managed by Dave Long, who has over 35 years of experience in the potato and onion industry. The Othello WA office will be set up to handle produce and dry freight truckloads for the Pacific Northwest.
Wada Farms Marketing introduces new premium retail onion pack
Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, has recently introduced a new premium retail onion pack which it calls the Medallions Sleeve Pack, according to Chris Wada, director of marketing.
The unique pack is the first retail onion package of the particular style in the market, and currently the onion packer who co-packs the product for Wada Farms is "the only [packer] in the country currently able to even run this style," Mr. Wada said.
Highest food-safety standards, premium product hallmarks at Eagle Eye
Jake Jacobsen, vice president of sales for Eagle Eye Produce Inc. in Nogales, AZ, said the company has staked its reputation on providing superior fresh produce grown and handled under the highest food-safety standards. "We would just like to really point out that we have generations of growing experience behind us, and that we love to farm and ship fresh, premium produce," he told The Produce News on Nov. 28.
New firm looks to help products realize full potential
With the regular introduction of new varieties in the fruit business a key element of success, growers are always on the lookout for what may be around the varietal corner.
The nursery industry has traditionally provided that service and continues to serve growers well, but a new product company called Proprietary Variety Management promises to add an innovative direction to that activity.
Oppy offers largest Rainforest Alliance grape program from Brazil
The Oppenheimer Group is delivering grapes grown with a little extra heart through the holidays, thanks to Brazil's largest Rainforest Alliance-certified grape producer.
Fazendas Labrunier grows Red Globes, Festivals, Thompsons and more in Brazil's São Francisco Valley. While Labrunier has marketed through Oppenheimer since 2008, this season brings a much-anticipated fully Rainforest Alliance-certified crop.
Giumarra hires East Coast business development manager
Giumarra Cos., based in Los Angeles, announced that Scott Ross has been named East Coast business development manager for the company.
Mr. Ross will promote Giumarra's complete product line in the East Coast markets. He will be based out of Giumarra's office in Avondale, PA, which is also home to its East Coast berry sales and operations.
New food-safety manager at Cal Flavor
IVAN MUNOZ took on the role of sales and food-safety manager at Cal Flavor, a sister company of Los Angeles-based Cal Pacific Growers, in August.
Gourmet Trading packing Chilean blueberries under ‘Green Giant Fresh’ label
Gourmet Trading Co. in Los Angeles distributes blueberries from the 5th Region to the 10th Region of Chile into Canada, Asia and both coasts of the United States.
Luciano Fiszman, procurement manager for the company, said that its season begins in November with a perfect transition from Argentina.
Duda offering ‘Celery Celebrations’ in newly designed seasonal packaging
“New this year, Duda Farm Fresh Foods is offering ‘Celery Celebrations,’ a line of seasonal packaging that is designed to help spur impulse buys during critical holiday sales periods,” said Nichole Towell, marketing director for the Oviedo, FL-based company.
“The line features packs of 30-count sleeved celery stalks, 18-count celery hearts and eight-ounce zip-top celery stick packages,” she said.
Ms. Towell noted that the packaging is festive and features snowflakes to reiterate the holiday timeframe of the product’s availability, which began on Nov. 1.