New additions and positions for Oppenheimer sales team
To strengthen the delivery of its "Expect the world from us" customer experience, Vancouver, BC-based The Oppenheimer Group has acquired a pair of new sales representatives and repositioned two other key members of its sales team.
Will well ruling quench water woes for Colorado ag producers?
A decision by Colorado District 1 Water Court Judge Roger Klein to accept a water augmentation plan submitted by the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District has given agricultural producers in northeast Colorado some cause for hope. But the million-dollar question remains: Will the Oct. 19 decision give producers in the drought-stricken state the necessary water resources to bring in crops in 2008?
New Jersey satellite to Hunts Point in the future?
Many cities are thinking outside the box and building state-of-the-art wholesale produce markets.
Matthew D'Arrigo, who has in the recent past held the office of president or co-president of the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association Inc. in the Bronx, NY, does not see a new produce market in New York in the foreseeable future. But he does believe it's time to think outside the box.
"Highly speculative" discussions have taken place at Hunts Point board meetings about building a satellite market in northern New Jersey.
David Lenihan indicted on charge of theft in Washington
The trial of David Charles Lenihan, a 54-year-old former controller for two Washington fruit warehouses, is scheduled to begin Dec. 31. Mr. Lenihan has been formally charged with one count of theft in Yakima County Superior Court.
FDOC's poor report card could mark its end
BThe Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability issued Nov. 16 the Department of Citrus, Options for Legislative Consideration in its Sunset Memorandum. It was not a favorable report card.
Fragoso new marketing manager at Coast Produce
Coast Produce Co. in Los Angeles has hired Emily (Marlephansakul) Fragoso to be its new marketing manager.
She joins the Coast team after six years with the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, where she began as membership development director and event coordinator and rose through the ranks to become vice president and executive vice president.
IN THE TRENCHES: Organics still struggling with growing pains
Recently, I informally surveyed several conventional supermarket organic produce sections and found only a few feet of space devoted to the category. The number of items in those sections was skimpy and the variety lacking. Why aren't conventional supermarkets fully committed to this category yet?
Frankel to head national spud co-op
Lee Frankel has taken the chief executive officer position of the United Potato Growers of America and resigned a similar post with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, where he served for 12 years.
Deardorff Family Farms ramps up production of recyclable celery box
Back in February, Deardorff Family Farms announced the introduction of a first-of-its-kind recyclable box for shipping celery. But it was only in September that the company was able to ramp up production of the box, according to Tom Deardorff II, president of Oxnard, CA-based Deardorff Family Farms.
The box provides all the benefits of traditional wax-saturated boxes with the added advantage of recyclability, and the response from customers has been positive.
Volume drop of 10-15 percent limits fresh cranberries for holiday season
A 10-15 percent drop in overall cranberry volume may translate to a very limited supply of fresh cranberries for the remainder of the holiday season. While the quality and the color of the fruit have both been good, the size has been smaller than normal, industry experts said.