Food Network hosts onion-peeling showdown
In a segment to be aired nationally the week of Oct. 9, cable TV's Food Network pits two members of the nation's onion industry in not only a race against the clock but also against each other as they peeled pound after pound of colossals June 23.
Set in the theme-park city of Orlando, FL, the Fastest Foods Challenge brought Sherise Jones, marketing director for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee, headquartered in Parma, ID, and Jeffrey Hall of National Onion Labs Inc., located in Collins, GA, together for a tear-jerking showdown of peeling prowess.
Village Farms to acquire Hot House Growers
Village Farms in Eatontown, NJ, one of North America's larger producers and marketers of greenhouse vegetables, has announced that an agreement has been reached for the acquisition of Hot House Growers, one of the larger growers in Vancouver, BC.
The acquisition offers Village Farms the opportunity to improve distribution dynamics, expand product availability and increase brand awareness for its customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ready Pac announces leadership change
IRWINDALE, CA -- Ready Pac announced July 7 the resignation of Larry Kern, who was president and chief executive officer. Mr. Kern has elected to pursue early retirement from the company. Dennis Gertmenian, Ready Pac's founder and chairman of the board, and Jack Davis, chairman of the executive committee, will assume Mr. Kern's responsibilities.
Fresh from the Start prepares for upcoming Maine broccoli deal
RIVERHEAD, NY -- The sales staff at Fresh from the Start LLC is gearing up to do what it does best: provide the highest quality Maine broccoli to its retail and foodservice customers.
Now in its 11th year, Fresh from the Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, expects to begin shipping broccoli July 17 from its longtime grower in Caribou, ME.
State restaurants to promote use of Jersey Fresh products
New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus and the New Jersey Restaurant Association unveiled a new signage program that will notify restaurant patrons that the Garden State's bounty is being served in an establishment.
FPFC Expo to focus on health
With a theme of "Health Odyssey," the 2006 Fresh Produce & Floral Council Expo is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees to hear the latest on nutrition information and peruse the booths of 170 exhibitors.
UK's largest retailer plans major move into Southern California
LOS ANGELES -- Some are calling it the British Invasion. First the Beatles, now this.
Tesco, the largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, is planning a major move into the U.S. market, beginning in Southern California and Arizona in 2007. The company made the announcement on Feb. 9, and it is a development that is certain to change the retail landscape here, although just what the nature of the impact will be remains to be seen.
Ride the Rockies cyclists carbo-load courtesy of CPAC
MOFFAT, CO -- Armed with just under a ton of baked potatoes and gallons of toppings, a small army of 30 volunteers from the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee greeted and, for the fourth consecutive year, carbo-loaded some 2,400 participants in the famed Ride the Rockies bicycle tour.
Colorado Western Slope cherries reaching appreciative consumers
DELTA, CO -- With a short monthlong window from mid-June to mid-July, sweet cherries from Colorado's Western Slope were hitting good volume during the third week of June.
According to Mike Gibson and Harold Broughton of United Marketing Exchange in Delta, CO, the crop was shaping up nicely as harvest neared, and he said that demand was very good.
United Marketing Exchange handles sales for Antelope Hill Orchards, a family operation overseen by Jim Hulteen.
Sleep takes a back seat for Prime Produce's Cristian Calvo
ORANGE, CA -- I had to ask. "How do you find time to do it all?" "During the week, I don't sleep much," was Cristian Calvo's reply. But of course. Mr. Calvo is just 23 years old. Who needs sleep at that age? Mr. Calvo is Hispanic sales manager at Prime Produce International, here. He is also a student at California State University-Long Beach. He runs a professional photography business on the side. He participates in mountain biking and ocean kayaking, and during the winter he goes skiing at Mammoth Mountain every weekend. And he loves to travel.