Dole?s Chilean imports on track
EDDYSTONE, PA " The Chilean fruit deal now has plenty of fruit to promote, according to Brad Cantwell, vice president of North American sales for the deciduous group of the Dole Fresh Fruit Co., based here.
The deal started with high prices because of a fruit shortage in Chile?s northern growing areas. But situations have normalized, Mr. Cantwell said during a Feb. 15 interview with The Produce News. Also participating in the interview at the Dole offices, located near the Philadelphia International Airport, was Mike Schiappa, director of sales.
Argentine pears dominate Oppenheimer?s early Southern Hemisphere pipfruit plans
The Southern Hemisphere pear season is shaping up well for The Oppenheimer Group, one of the industry's larger marketers of Argentine pears based in Vancouver, BC.
According to David Nelley, Oppenheimer?s pipfruit category director, the company represented nearly 20 percent of Argentina?s apple and pear exports to North America in 2004, and the company expects to increase that proportion in 2005.
WSPC hires director of trade
Matthew Harris joined the Moses Lake-based Washington State Potato Commission Feb. 17 as the new director of trade. Previously he was an account executive for Ag Management in Kennewick, WA, where he administered event management, database development and regulatory compliance for agricultural commodity organizations.
Mr. Harris held similar positions at the Maurer Christensen Co. and Far West Spearmint Oil, both also in the Tri-Cities area. He holds a bachelor?s degree in agricultural economics from Washington State University.
Value proposition theme of RFIDretail conference
MONTEREY, CA " If Bruce Peterson, senior vice president of perishables for Wal-Mart, is correct, then radio frequency identification technology has so far just scratched the surface of its potential.
?The ultimate applications to RFID have yet to be thought about," Mr. Peterson told the audience gathered for the RFIDretail conference held Feb. 10-11 at the Monterey Marriott, here.
The first day featured speakers from various industries, and the second day involved a field trip to the RFID cold-chain produce testing center at nearby NewStar in Salinas.
Gargiulo: Quality is key to improved grower returns
VISALIA, CA " The mission of Sunkist Growers Inc. " to provide the highest returns possible for quality California and Arizona citrus growers " has not changed in over 100 years, Jeff Gargiulo, president and CEO of Sunkist, said at the organization's annual meeting.
Chiquita buys Fresh Express
Cincinnati-based Chiquita Brands International Inc. announced Feb. 23 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Fresh Express unit of Richmond, VA-based Performance Food Group for $855 million in cash.
The move marks the latest " and largest " development in Chiquita?s resurgence after its 2001 bankruptcy filing. In March 2002, the company announced that it had emerged from its pre-arranged Chapter 11 restructuring "as a healthy company with a solid financial structure."
Next generation at Double Diamond farms doing 'double duty'
A new generation of a family entering the greenhouse industry in Leamington, ON, is not an unusual happening. In fact, it's more normal than not in the area and has been for nearly the past 100 years. It all began when a couple of families emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy in the early part of the 20th century and did what they knew best: farm. Innovative people that they were, however, they soon learned that they could extend their crop season by growing in greenhouse environments.
Produce veteran joins MCL Distributing
MCL Distributing Inc., a grower, shipper and distributor of "4-Earth? brand conventional and organic specialty produce, announced the hiring of Jeanette De-Coninck Hertzler as a senior account manager.
Winn-Dixie files Chapter 11 reorganization to address financial and operational challenges
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. announced Feb. 21 that in order to address the financial and operational challenges that have hampered its performance, the company and 23 of its U.S. subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
The filings were made in the evening of Feb. 21 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
IFPA board to vote on new European division
WASHINGTON " Top officers with the International Fresh-cut Produce Association are expected this April to give a go-ahead to a plan to create a European division, a model that, if successful, could be exported to other regions of the world.
The appetite for fresh-cut produce is growing in Europe, said IFPA President Jerry Welcome, who noted that European processors pitched the idea to IFPA last year. "Obesity is not as hot an issue as over here," he said. But time-starved shoppers, who continue to look for convenient products, are driving the market.