Loblaw revamps senior produce management team
Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Canada's largest retailer with 1,690 supermarkets nationwide, has restructured its senior produce management team.
No shortage of jumbos and colossals out of Washington
Citing a "short supply of colossals across the country," Sweet Clover Sales Manager Bill Brownfield said from his Walla Walla, WA, office that "it's our time to shine" with jumbos and colossals in both Red Wing reds and Sweet Clover Sweets.
Mr. Brownfield said that 25-pound cartons of Red Wing single-centers in jumbos and colossals were moving briskly in early September. Shipping had started Aug. 11, and he said that Sweet Clover will have "continuous sweet yellows through February or March."
T&A's Doug Meyer now at West Pak Avocado
Industry veteran Doug Meyer has joined Temecula, CA-based West Pak Avocado as its new vice president of sales and marketing. He will be managing the daily sales and marketing functions of the company.
Mr. Meyer told The Produce News that after 13 years with vegetable giant Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA, he made the move because it is "an opportunity to grow my career" and because West Pak is perfectly positioned for its own tremendous growth. "We are poised for increased sales in a number of areas including national retail, foodservice and club stores."
Alliance enables Progreso Produce to expand programs
Progreso Produce announced an exclusive marketing partnership with Growers Alliance Corp. in Vista, CA, to market a variety of fresh produce, including mangos and onions from Central America and South America.
Rio Grande growers escape Ike's wrath
Hurricane Ike was expected to at least leave the Texas Rio Grande Valley with some moisture. But the hurricane's fury was entirely directed to the east and north on the Texas coastline, John McClung, president of the Texas Produce Association in Mission, TX, indicated early Sept. 15.
"There was no adversity in the produce growing area" of Texas, he said, adding that after Ike cleared Texas Sept. 13, a cold front came into south Texas and left some rain.
Ground broken at Philadelphia market
PHILADELPHIA -- Plenty of golden shovels were on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Philadelphia's new produce terminal market, held here Sept 4.
The temperature soared near Philadelphia's record-high of 93 degrees, but no one standing atop a windy, dusty, sandy plot of land in the southwestern part of the city had any real complaints. Finally, what was arguably the biggest day in the city's produce history had arrived. About 100 people were gathered for the groundbreaking were thrilled to see a day that seemed to be out of reach for the last seven years.
FTE and FTGE hold meetings at Joint Tomato Conference
NAPLES, FL -- Members of the Florida Tomato Exchange and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange met Sept. 4 for their annual membership meetings at the Joint Tomato Conference, here, at the Ritz-Carlton Naples.
Stenzel urges FDA to revisit the science behind Salmonella incident
WASHINGTON -- United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel urged the Food & Drug Administration to take another look at the science behind the investigation into this summer's Salmonella outbreak with the hopes that tomatoes would be finally cleared as a possible cause.
Crowded onto buses and packed into an auditorium, more than 100 attendees of United's Washington Public Policy Conference met with FDA officials to discuss lessons learned from the Salmonella outbreak.
Chiquita dedicates research center
Chiquita Brands International Inc. dedicated Sept. 10 the James R. Lugg Global Research & Innovation Center in Salinas, CA, affirming the company's commitment to the Salinas Valley.
The center is named in honor of Mr. Lugg, Fresh Express' executive vice president for science and quality, and celebrates the contributions of Fresh Express employees to the fresh produce industry.
The center also will comprise the company's trial farms, pilot manufacturing plant, consumer test kitchen and a retail merchandising lab where value- added products are created and tested.
CAC packs spring and summer with promotions
The California Avocado Commission executed a succession of consumer co- marketing promotions for spring and summer, including a Build a Better Burger program tie-in with Sutter Home wines and a Fiesta de Flavor sweepstakes partnering with Corona beer.