Challenges and opportunities explored at FPFC gathering
PLEASANTON, CA -- United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel said that the industry is facing many challenges, but it also has numerous opportunities that can make this a golden age for fruits and vegetables.
'End of an era' -- Snokist ends fresh pack to focus on processing
While some fresh apple and cherry growers have lost a longtime packer, the processing side of Northwest fruit is retaining one of its top-five pear canners. Snokist Growers, a Yakima, WA-based cooperative that has packed fresh apples, apricots, prunes, plums, cherries and pears for more than a century, announced in mid-February that it has ended that side of its operations, and company President Jim Davis told The Produce News that the decision affects 100 growers.
Ocean Spray 'absolutely committed to fresh'
Although it recently lost one of its larger fresh cranberry growers, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is "absolutely committed to fresh and is very much in a growth mindset, and we plan for that to continue," Chris Phillips, a spokesperson for the Lakeville-Middleboro, MA-based cooperative, told The Produce News Feb. 20.
James J. Jardina Jr. dies at age 82
James J. Jardina Jr., former president and chief executive officer of J.J. Jardina Co. Inc. in Atlanta, died Feb. 13 from complications from pneumonia.
Search for new market location progresses
PHILADELPHIA -- An April light may be shining for a new wholesale produce market, here.
After a Feb. 12 meeting of the board of the Philadelphia Fresh Food Terminal Corp., representatives for the group told The Produce News that the market was never so close to signing a deal, but there are a lot of contracts that have to be negotiated. A final agreement was expected to be reached by April 8.
Markon adds first California member
Markon Cooperative, based in Salinas, CA, announced Feb. 13 the addition of ProPacific Fresh, a produce specialist based in Durham, CA. ProPacific Fresh is Markon's first California member and the first produce specialist to join the cooperative.
Tim York, president of Markon, said in a press release that the addition reflects increased demand for Markon's proprietary brands. He added that it would help Markon improve service to its existing and prospective multi-unit account customers.
South African citrus industry serious about developing U.S. market
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ -- The South African citrus industry has invested heavily to meet the special requirements and demands of serving the U.S. market. Details of those efforts were outlined to The Produce News Feb. 11 in the Gloucester City offices of one of South Africa's citrus importers, Fisher Capespan U.S.A. LLC, by two key leaders of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, headquartered in Citrusdal, South Africa.
TECHNOLOGY AT WORK: Produce clerk bridging the information gap with podcasts
From his in-store vantage point, produce clerk Ray Ortega can see that a good many consumers are confused about the produce they buy. They are not even that sure how to tell if an apple is good, let alone how to pick a ripe coconut or a juicy pineapple.
Fresh Link Tomato makes it debut
Integrated Fresh Solutions, a marketer of fresh tomatoes to the wholesale, retail and foodservice industries, announced Feb. 11 that it has formed a new company, Fresh Link Tomato, which provides sourcing opportunities from major tomato-growing regions.
IFS, a holding company based in Dallas, owns a portfolio of companies that are vertically integrated in the produce supply chain. Michael Leach, vice president of IFS, said that the inspiration behind the formation of the new company comes from the dramatic changes the tomato business has been experiencing.
Dolbec promotion highlights HydroSerre Mirabel moves
MIRABEL, QC -- Along with celebrating its 20th year in business, HydroSerre Mirabel Inc. has added and promoted a number of key staffers. The company is known for its hydroponic lettuce grown with floating-raft technology in greenhouses here, and it will begin using the process later this year at a new facility in Rickman, TN.