Southern Specialties launching ‘Southern Selects’ hand-peeled Brussels sprouts
“We are happy to announce that we are now marketing ‘Southern Selects’ hand peeled Brussels sprouts, a new item for our company,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “We are growing the item in Guatemala, and we’re offering a variety of pack sizes.”
Berries: an emerging category growing exponentially at The Oppenheimer Group
“We anticipate increased berry volumes in all of our import programs,” said Nolan Quinn, berry category director for The Oppenheimer Group headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. “We are also excited about the growth that we are seeing in organics. We’re anticipating more organic blueberries from Chile this season, and we will be marketing organic blackberries from Mexico for the first time starting in October.”
The Perishable Specialist: ‘We get butterflies when the first Argentinean blueberry notice arrives by email’
Ana Ramos, licensed customs broker and partner with her husband Frank Ramos, owners of The Perishable Specialist Inc. in Miami, FL, said that projecting increases or decreases in berry imports every year is a subjective question.
“We have spoken to several customers regarding the upcoming season, and the main topic has been on the increase in the number of foreign berry growers,” said Ms. Ramos. “That translates into an anticipated larger amount of berries to be cleared in the coming season.”
Customized Brokers says growth of import berry market may have to do with emerging export countries
Nelly Yunta, vice president of Customized Brokers in Miami, FL, said that she is hearing that there will be an increase in berry imports to the United States this year.
“I cannot pinpoint the exact reasons for the expected growth, but it could be at least in part attributed to new countries emerging in the berry market,” said Ms. Yunta. “Customized Brokers is currently clearing berries from Argentina and Chile, and we have seen a very consistent volume from both countries.”
Hadley’s Albert Keck finds consumers responsive to health message
Dates have a good story to tell with regard to health benefits, and Albert Keck, president of Hadley Date Gardens Inc. in Thermal, CA, believes that consumers are responsive to the health message.
Strong retail partnerships and continued sales growth go hand-in-hand for Mariani
Winters, CA-based Mariani Nut Co., which has been conducting business for over 40 years and offers full lines of almonds, walnuts and pecans, attributes its success to strong partnerships with retailers and good two-way communication.
“We find that retailers are listening when we share the story of our family-owned company, and of our long-term customer relationships,” said Matt Mariani, who oversees sales and marketing for the company. “Their customers are serious about wanting to know more about the people and farms that produce their food.”
Health benefits of pistachios help to drive sales for Setton Farms
According to Joseph Setton of Terra Bella, CA-based Setton Farms, pistachio sales this past crop year were very strong and shipments were up over 25 percent.
“Retail sales specifically have been strong,” he said. “According to IRI, in the fourth quarter of 2011, pistachio sales exceeded almonds at retail.”
Although it is still too early to comment on this year’s crop (as the harvest season begins in September and ends in early October), Mr. Setton said that the healthfulness of pistachios will help to drive sales.
Southern Specialties launching ‘Southern Selects’ hand-peeled Brussels sprouts
“We are happy to announce that we are now marketing ‘Southern Selects’ hand peeled Brussels sprouts, a new item for our company,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “We are growing the item in Guatemala, and we’re offering a variety of pack sizes.”
Murakami's Kitamura says orderly marketing key to 2012 movement
Murakami Produce General Manager Grant Kitamura told The Produce News in early September that good marketing and patience are important in moving this year's Treasure Valley onion crop.
From his Ontario, OR, office, Mr. Kitamura said the current crop is of high quality and good size.
"I have confidence in the quality," he said. "But we have to hold together as marketers. We have to be orderly, and we have to be patient."
New hires at Giumarra Cos.
The Giumarra Cos., headquartered in Los Angeles, announced the expansion of its Nogales, AZ-based sales team with two new hires on Aug. 27.