Mann promotes Tom Koster
Mann Packing Co. in Salinas, CA, announced the promotion of veteran employee Tom Koster to the newly created position of vice president of sales and shipping. Mr. Koster will be responsible for overseeing the servicing of Mann's customers from order receipt to product shipment.
Bill Ramsey, co-chairman of the board, said in a statement, "Tom has an innate familiarity with these two aspects of our operations. By having him oversee both sales and shipping, we will not only streamline processes but provide a more efficient response to our customers' needs."
Vidalia executive: Southeast conference a big success
The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Winter Conference "is an absolutely wonderful opportunity for the folks in Vidalia onions -- and in the industry -- to go down and meet vendors," said Wendy Brannen, executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, GA.
Mori-Nu introduces seasoned tofu in two varieties
Morinaga Nutritional Foods Inc. in Torrance, CA, a leader in the soyfoods industry and maker of shelf-stable Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, has introduced new seasoned tofu to take the guesswork out of preparing the low-fat, protein-rich food. Morinaga is introducing Mori-Nu seasoned tofu in two varieties: Chinese spice and Japanese Miso.
Great potential seen as California plums gain access to China
After more than a decade of negotiations, the California tree fruit industry has gained access to markets in mainland China for plums from five California counties.
According to Blair Richardson, president of the California Tree Fruit Agreement in Reedley, CA, the Chinese market is "a huge opportunity" for California growers and could potentially surpass Canada to become the largest export market for California plums.
Lone Star grapefruit makes appearance in the Big Apple
NEW YORK Johnny Iuzzini, the executive pastry chef of Jean Georges, a swanky New York restaurant, thinks that grapefruit produced in the Lone Star State of Texas are the piece de resistance. By his final recipe presentation at the French Culinary Institute, here, Jan. 7, his audience of nearly 100 people agreed.
Westlake increases 'Always Fresh' strawberry brand by 40 percent
Based on last year's success, Westlake Produce Co.s "Always Fresh" brand strawberries from Florida will increase in volume from the 500,000 flats the company packed and sold in 2005 to 700,000 in the coming year.
The Los Angeles-based Westlake, a distributor of 14 fresh produce items, has a fully staffed sales office in Winter Haven, FL, where its strawberry and blueberry deals are managed by Brandon Mullin. Its customers are chains along the Eastern Seaboard, while the home office handles sales from west of the Mississippi.
Longtime Florida strawberry grower murdered at his home
Growers face many risks in running their businesses, but facing a man with a gun on their own property should never be one of them.
RETAIL VIEW: Is the supermarket model broken?
Albertsons put itself on the block. Marsh Supermarkets has announced it is looking for a buyer after posting large third-quarter losses. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. has once again shrunk, going from over 1,000 stores to 350. Many Food Lion and Winn Dixie stores have been offered for sale and have not reopened as supermarkets. Ahold has announced losses.
The world is a stage for AgraCo marketing
International markets are highly evident on the passport of David Webster. This chief executive officer of AgraCo Technologies International LLC in Lafayette Hill, PA, travels to distant parts of the world about once a month as he promotes a variety of agricultural technologies.
AgraCo's products include "Extend-A-Life" ethylene removal filters; "Produce Saver" sachets to extend fruit and vegetable shelf life; "Nitro Max," a microbial fertilizer; and "No Fly Zone," which is a non-toxic fly trap.
Longtime industry veteran details 'Quest for the Perfect Strawberry'
Longtime California strawberry industry member and current retiree Herbert Baum has spent the last six years penning an analysis of that industry with regard to its marketing order - and he does not give it good marks.
"Quest for the Perfect Strawberry" is in the process of being published as Mr. Baum's doctoral dissertation as well as what he calls a book that serves as "a descriptive model for marketing order evaluation." He has been working on the book "all day and into the night" for six years, but it is really 50 years in the making.