Fresh from the Start sales rep 'hooked' on produce
RIVERHEAD, NY -- Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. It started from a Long Island port aboard a not-so-tiny ship. For those who grow up on the east end of New York's Long Island, fishing is in the blood. For Paul Visentin, fishing was not only an activity, but it also led to an unlikely career in produce. "I started fishing when I was two years old," Mr. Visentin said. "You can't live on eastern Long Island without fishing."
Perishables Group provides data solutions to Giant Food Stores
The Perishables Group, a Chicago-based independent consulting firm specializing in the fresh foods industry, formed an information sharing agreement with Giant Food Stores to provide data and tools to implement a customized perishables performance tracking and category development program for its operating companies.
The agreement will enable Giant, its Tops division and supplier partners to gain new insights into category performance across the perishables departments including produce, meat, seafood, deli and bakery.
Retailers celebrate local product with Pride of New York promotions
With the start of the 2006 New York state produce deal just around the corner, residents of the Empire State are anxiously awaiting the displays of local product that will grace the produce departments of their favorite supermarkets. And for two retailers in particular, it is a time to celebrate local product with Pride of New York promotions.
The Produce News announces personnel changes
ORADELL, NJ -- John Groh has been promoted to publisher of The Produce News, based here, effective July 10.
Mr. Groh, who has served as the newspaper's editor and associate publisher for the past six years, will be in charge of all aspects of the day-to-day operation of The Produce News. He will retain some of his editorial responsibilities, and his new title is editor and publisher.
RETAIL VIEW: Resets for value-added are domain of category captain
The advent and proliferation of the value-added category and the refrigerated cases in which they are displayed have brought a new dimension to the produce department reset. Today, it is typical for a "category captain" from the supply side to be responsible for resetting the value-added display case two, three or even four times a year.
Food industry partners team up to streamline supply chain practices
The Produce Marketing Association is partnering with the Food Marketing Institute, the International Foodservice Distributors Association and GS1-US to implement a four-month pilot program among select buyers and sellers to gauge the impact of utilizing the Global Trade Item Number to improve supply chain efficiency and profitability.
Deluge in the East clouds crop conditions and availability
A rash of extraordinarily wet weather in June from New York south through the mid-Atlantic region has caused spotty crop conditions and uncertain supplies are predicted through the balance of the summer, which is when many of those states typically enjoy a surge in interest from consumers looking for locally grown products.
CCOF manager to head Driscoll's organic program
Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. in Watsonville, CA, announced that Brian McElroy has joined its management team as organic business manager. Mr. McElroy comes to Driscoll from California Certified Organic Farmers, where he held the position of certification services manager for the last 12 years.
Bob Matousek dead from cancer at 53
After a long battle with cancer, Otto Robert (Bob) Matousek, who was a member of the produce industry for about 30 years and who was most recently with Cobbtown, GA-based Plantation Sweets for three years, died July 1 at the Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Facility.
Born Oct. 10, 1952, in Homestead, FL, Mr. Matousek resided with his wife of 20 years, Betty Browder Matousek, in Statesboro, GA. He earned his bachelor's degree from Florida Technical University in Orlando in 1974 and his master's degree in science in management from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, in 1976.
Michigan harvest gets underway
While recent statistics showed relatively stable production in Michigan in recent years, shippers said that a very strong crop is at hand for the 2006 shipping year.
Oliver Wolfe, owner of Above All Produce Inc. in Benton Harbor, MI, said June 28, "The quality coming off the plant and also in the field looks very good right now. Quality is excellent. We will be harvesting in a little over a week and it is just beautiful." Already being harvested in late June were cucumbers, pickles, green beans and yellow squash.