National Apple Month announces 2004 retail display contest winners
2005-02-01
VIENNA, VA " The U. S. Apple Association?s National Apple Month program has announced the winners of its fall 2004 NAM retail and military display contests, bringing the apple industry's fall generic apple promotion to a close.
Mountaineer Amy Gates climbing her way to the top
2005-01-31
Since her youth, Amy Gates, 28, has made a habit of quickly climbing through the ranks at the companies for which she works. At 15 years old, Ms. Gates "took photographs for a white-water rafting company." By 17, the company owner, who did not realize her young age, promoted her to office manager. ?They paid me really well, and it was seasonal, which worked out really well because I was in college? at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA, earning her degree in agriculture business with a concentration in marketing.
Duda names corporate vice president
2005-01-31
Joseph A. Duda, president and CEO of A. Duda & Sons Inc., announced the appointment of Tracy Duda Chapman as corporate vice president of corporate services and general counsel. She will continue to serve as secretary for the corporation.
In her new position, Ms. Chapman, who is general counsel for the company, will have additional oversight responsibility for the company?s human resources, communications, governmental affairs and technical services departments.
OSO Sweet launches its largest-ever media campaign
2005-01-31
OSO Sweet," the winter sweet onion brand from Chile, is making its largest media push in its history. Called the OSO Over America Tour, this major media campaign is designed to cover the United States, said Rodger Helwig, the San Francisco-based marketing communications director for OSO Sweet. Both print and broadcast outlets around the country will be featuring OSO Sweets in articles and segments from January through March.
Argentine garlic a strong deal at Auerbach
2005-01-31
Argentine garlic is a strong product in this new year, according to Paul Auerbach of Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. in South Hackensack, NJ.
Mr. Auerbach said that Argentine shippers start loading garlic in November and December each year, with the North American marketing season running from January through May. His firm has imported Argentine garlic for about 50 years.
?This season the quality looks good. I was in Chile and Argentina at the beginning of December to see the end of the harvest and the beginning of packing. The quality looks good."
FreshPoint acquires Piranha Produce and Nashville Tomato
2005-01-30
SYSCO Corp. announced Jan. 24 that its FreshPoint produce subsidiary has agreed to acquire Piranha Produce Inc., and has also completed the acquisition of Nashville Tomato Inc. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
Piranha?s management team, staff and headquarters will remain intact and the company will function as an operating company of FreshPoint.
SmartFresh expanding beyond apples
2005-01-30
SPRING HOUSE, PA " Since 2002, many of the major U.S. apple shippers have applied the "SmartFresh? brand product to slow the ripening rate, thereby maintaining crunchiness and juiciness in fruit.
AgroFresh Inc., here, is now introducing SmartFresh to much wider segments of the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, with tomatoes, bananas and melons high on the firm?s priority list.
NewStar hires celery commodity manager
2005-01-30
Salinas, CA-based NewStar Fresh Foods has hired Steve Cagel as commodity manager for its celery program. Mr. Cagel will manage the celery program in addition to supporting the company?s expanded value-added product line.
Mr. Cagel comes to NewStar with a background in both produce and accounting. Most recently he was a salesman for Steinbeck Country Produce. In prior roles, he inspected produce for Cproduce.com and worked in the finance department for Tanimura & Antle. Mr. Cagel is recently married and lives in Soledad, just south of Salinas.
Monsanto to acquire Seminis in $1.4 billion deal
2005-01-30
Agricultural products giant Monsanto Co. announced Jan. 24 that it will acquire fruit and vegetable seed company Seminis for about $1 billion in cash plus the assumption of $400 million in debt.
Russian farming delegation to tour U.S. ag sites in February
2005-01-30
A group of high-ranking members of Russia?s agricultural community, representing both the private and public sectors, will be visiting several U.S. farming facilities during early February.
The tour will be hosted by the Russian Farm Community Project, a Minnesota-based foreign development program with offices also in Moscow. The international organization is chaired by Allen J. Vangelos, who is also currently chairman of the board of Vancouver, BC-based BC Hot House Foods Inc.
