Del Campo joins list of firms to utilize HarvestMark for traceability
Del Campo Supreme has joined a growing number of firms in the industry to utilize "HarvestMark" from YottaMark Inc. to reinforce food safety and deliver on-demand traceability to buyers and consumers.
Olivia's Organics to move into new facility in early 2009
ORLANDO, FL -- Olivia's Organics, a prepackaged organic salad line owned by State Garden Inc. in Chelsea, MA, made a strong promotional push at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention and expositon.
Olivia's Organics was launched in early 2006 by Mark DeMichaelis, who is a family owner of State Garden, which was founded in Boston's Faneuil Hall 70 years ago.
RRV red spud harvest a success
ORLANDO, FL -- Out of 23,000 acres of red potatoes grown in the Red River Valley this year, fewer than 200 acres were left in the field, according to Ted Kreis, marketing director for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association in Grand Forks, ND. He said that late-season rains south of Fargo kept the harvest from reaching 100 percent.
Mr. Kreis promoted Red River Valley potatoes at the PMA Fresh Summit with Greg Holtman, a salesman for Associated Potato Growers Inc. in Grand Forks, and T.J. Johnstone, vice president of sales of Tri-Campbell Farms in Grafton, ND.
Greenhouse production up next for Baby Fresh
ORLANDO, FL -- Construction on greenhouses for tomato and bell pepper production is next on tap in the growth plans of Baby Fresh of Guatemala, based in Guatemala City.
Antonio Jose Maldonado, vice president of Baby Fresh, told The Produce News at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention, here, that the hydroponic greenhouses, built in Guatemala's highlands, would be harvesting for export in a year.
Election may favor immigration reform, say experts
WASHINGTON -- Washington insiders affiliated with the produce industry say that the first test for a Democrat-controlled Congress and White House may be whether immigration reform ranks high on next year's agenda.
RETAIL VIEW: 'Speed dating' comes to produce
Quick, you have 10 minutes to make your pitch and then move on to the next potential candidate, with someone else following you to the seat you are currently occupying. Speed-dating has become a common way for single people to meet a mate. But the aforementioned scenario is not about dating, but rather buying produce in one New England state.
Del Monte Foods debuts new fruit products
ORLANDO, FL -- Del Monte Foods, based in San Francisco, is offering several new and convenient value-added fruit products. At the Del Monte Foods booth at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit, here, Xander Shapiro, produce business director of innovation, described these products.
In July, Del Monte introduced red grapefruit slices, sold in a 20.5-ounce bowl. Rolling out in January will be two new refrigerated bowls of citrus: grapefruit duo (with red and white grapefruit slices) and citrus salad (with red and white grapefruit, and orange slices).
VeggieLand acquires 'Franklin Farms' brand
J.P. Veggies Inc., doing business as VeggieLand, a leading natural and vegetarian foods manufacturer in Parsippany, NJ, has announced the acquisition of the "Franklin Farms" brand of vegetarian products.
Don Burke, who was vice president of marketing and sales at Franklin Farms prior to the sale, will serve as national retail sales manager for the Franklin Farms division of VeggieLand under the new acquisition.
Ayco Farms introduces 'Super Mini Me' watermelon
Ayco Farms, headquartered in Deerfield Beach, FL, said that it has received strong response to its new "Super Mini Me" watermelon, which it debuted at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit exposition in Orlando, FL.
The "Super Mini Me" is currently at a semi-commercial level, as production has only recently begun and volumes are not yet large enough to market the item full scale. The orange- to grapefruit-sized watermelon is geared toward single-serving uses.
Organization looks to preserve family farms
ORLANDO, FL -- Sister companies Horton Fruit Co. and Grow Farms, based in Louisville, KY, are working together to help promote Kentucky-grown produce and preserve family farms.
Grow Farms, which was founded earlier this year and is a grower and distributor of high-quality regional foods, was the brainchild of Brian Knott, who oversees operations.
According to Mr. Knott, farming inputs are rising across the board, and without some assistance with marketing and distribution, growers are at risk of going out of business.