Four Seasons' Tony Colagiovanni loses battle with leukemia
Ron Carkoski, president and chief executive officer of Four Seasons Produce Inc. in Ephrata, PA, said the produce industry has lost a friend with the passing of Anthony Francis Colagiovanni, who died Jan. 11 following a yearlong battle with leukemia. He was 57.
"It's quite a loss," Mr. Carkoski told The Produce News.
"Tony joined the Four Seasons family in January of 2000 as a member of the buying team and developed into the role of lead buyer before his illness struck," Mr. Carkoski added.
Raisin board new 'Wise Choice' campaign reviewed
EASTON, CA -- Around 18 months ago, drawing on the results of consumer research, the California Raisin Marketing Board in Fresno, CA, developed a new advertising and marketing concept for California raisins that focused on the health and nutritional benefits of raisins in the diet. The resultant campaign, now in its second year, is built around the theme "Wise Choices," and consumers as well as retail, foodservice and industrial customers have all been responsive to the message, according to Larry Blagg, senior vice president of marketing.
Food safety top priority in 2008
WASHINGTON -- Food safety will remain the top concern for produce industry trade groups in 2008, but they will be juggling other matters as Congress looks to capitalize on issues during an important election year.
Dale Liefer announces retirement from Westlake Produce Co.
Dale Liefer of Westlake Produce Co. retired from the Los Angeles-based company he has headed for nearly 20 years. His retirement was effective Dec. 31, 2007.
Jeff Miller, president of the company since January 2007 and one of the four remaining partners, will continue in that position. He joined Westlake in 1997 when Ed Miller Co. merged with Westlake.
RETAIL VIEW: New nutrition scoring system touted by Topco
By the middle of this year, consumers around the United States could have the opportunity to quickly gauge the nutritional content of everything in their supermarket from an apple to an apple tart and from a zucchini to zucchini bread. Topco Associates in Skokie, IL, has teamed with Yale University's Griffin Hospital Prevention Research Center to make the nutritional information available to its member supermarkets.
Dave Eldredge leaves NewStar but is still a partner
Dave Eldredge, president and chief executive officer of Salinas, CA-based NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, relinquished those titles in mid-December.
Mr. Eldredge, who remains a partner in NewStar, retains his role on the board of directors of the California Leafy Green Handler Marketing Agreement and serves on that board's communications committee.
Albert's Organics promotes Bibb
Albert's Organics announced that its Albert's Twin Cities General Manager Leonard Bibb has been promoted to the position of national operations director, a new position. Mr. Bibb will report to Greg Cota, vice president of operations.
Mr. Bibb, a fourth-generation food industry veteran, spent 18 years at Fleming, where he held various positions including division president, prior to joining Albert's in 2006.
Red Blossom Farms and ASG Produce form merger
Santa Maria, CA-based Red Blossom Farms and Fresno, CA-based ASG Produce Inc. have merged companies to form Red Blossom Sales Inc. in Santa Maria. The merger was effective Jan. 1.
ASG Produce has been the sales arm for Red Blossom Farms, and after working as a team for three years, Red Blossom Farms and ASG have joined forces to build a seamless marketing company with in-house sales. The merger creates administrative and service synergies for Red Blossom Sales as well as for the firm's growers and customers.
NWPB increases assessment by 50 percent
The National Watermelon Promotion Board increased its assessment by 50 percent to six cents per hundredweight from four cents on Jan. 1, according to NWPB officials.
A lengthy two-and-a-half year process culminated with the U.S. secretary of agriculture reviewing and approving the increase recommended by the NWPB board of directors, Mark Arney, the board's executive director, told The Produce News Jan. 4.
Backyard Farms appoints new chief
Madison, ME-based Backyard Farms, one of the larger New England greenhouse growers of high-quality vine-ripened "Backyard Beauties" tomatoes, has appointed Roy Lubetkin president and chief executive officer.
Mr. Lubetkin, 50, will be responsible for leading the company's strategic growth efforts with ongoing "best-in-class" production process improvements, evaluation of new sustainable energy technologies, development of new varietals, exploration of new crop introductions and pursuit of wider geographic reach.