Ocean Mist kicks off season with marketing activities
Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms is sparking the beginning of the peak artichoke season with several new marketing activities this spring.
With good-size artichokes and strong volume projected, Ocean Mist Farms is supporting sales with activities such as in-store demos, grower appearances, display contests and consumer outreach focused on educating shoppers about how to eat artichokes.
Pandol Bros. to close office in Chile
An office maintained in Santiago, Chile, by Delano, CA-based Pandol Bros. Inc. since 1987 will permanently close at the end of April, Anthony Stetson, Pandol's vice president of sales, told The Produce News April 16.
Sunripe Golf Classic nets $100,000 for migrant scholarship fund
BRADENTON, FL -- Nine years ago, Joseph Esformes, a principal in the Sunripe family of companies comprised of Pacific Tomato Co., Pacific Triple E Packing, Pacific Collier Fresh, Pacific Pre-Pack and Heller Bros., visited the University of South Florida's College of Education in Tampa at the urging of his close friend and former marketing director, William Gross, who was ebullient about the programs in place at the school.
Indianapolis Fruit's Winning at Retail show hailed as a success
Building on its highly successful educational seminar last year, Indianapolis Fruit Co. in Indianapolis delivered yet another energetic and educational seminar and product showcase in March.
With well over 350 industry-leading retailers, grower-shippers and produce agencies in attendance, Indianapolis Fruit hosted its third annual educational seminar and product showcase titled Winning at Retail III: Customer Service I.D.E.A.S. for Better Sales & Profit.
PakSense unveils new standard temperature range recording Ultra Labels
Much like the way its product is activated, Pak Sense Inc. believes its new Ultra Labels will make the ordering process for the product a snap.
The Boise, ID-based manufacturer of sensory solutions for packaging recently released the Ultra Label, a new line of standard configurations for the firm's award-winning temperature-monitoring label.
The new Ultra Label simplifies the ordering process for PakSense's customers and provides quicker turnaround time on orders, according to Amy Childress, its marketing programs director.
Conference highlights hemispheric port expansion activity
WASHINGTON -- Dynamic Western Hemisphere port development activity became readily apparent at the spring conference of the American Association of Port Authorities, which is based in Alexandria, VA.
The association's spring meeting was held March 31 at the Willard Inter- Continental Hotel, here. Presenters from the United States and other countries spoke April 1 at the conference, which ended with the Mexican port administration hosting a social engagement at the Organization of American States.
Owyhee asparagus coming on in Oregon
New nursery asparagus planted two years ago is coming into production this season for Nyssa, OR-based Owyhee Produce, and General Manager Shay Myers said in late March that he anticipated good volume throughout the mid-April to mid-June shipping season.
Farming 100 acres of asparagus as well as onions and mint, the multi- generation family operation ships its grass under the "Family Farms" label.
Sonora grape promotions seek to keep retailers interested through Fourth of July
Grapes from Sonora, Mexico, are the first North American grapes of the season to hit the market, and they typically start in early May. This year, many shippers expect to start their earliest varieties around May 5-10.
Secretary of agriculture to speak at United convention
WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer will deliver the keynote address Tuesday, May 6 at the United Fresh Produce Association's annual meeting and breakfast general session in Las Vegas, NV.
Following breakfast and his keynote address, the secretary is also scheduled to visit the United FreshTech and United Fresh Marketplace shows later Tuesday morning.
California blueberries continue to rise in visibility and popularity
Ten years ago, California blueberry production barely registered on the radar screen. Today, the state is the fifth-largest highbush blueberry producer in the United States behind only Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
Highbush blueberries are the type grown in California and 37 other states, and they are distinguished from the lowbush blueberry that is used for processing and is grown in places such as Maine and eastern Canada.