DNE touts strong clementine season, looks toward Chile
PHILADELPHIA " The venue for a lunch meeting with The Produce News on Feb. 15 was a fitting scene for Bill Weyland. Across the street from the restaurant was the historic U.S. Customs House, quite relevant to the general manager of imports for DNE World Fruit Sales Inc., based in Ft. Pierce, FL. Mr. Weyland works from an office in North Brunswick, NJ.
Peterson keynotes second annual FPFC Phoenix luncheon
PHOENIX " A gathering of nearly 200 people attended the Fresh Produce & Floral Council?s second annual Arizona luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the Phoenix Crown Plaza Hotel, here. Kevin Easler of Sprouts Farmers Market, served as the emcee for the event, while Wal-Mart?s Bruce Peterson was the day?s keynote speaker.
EASTERN PERSPECTIVE: Frank Weichec's retirement brings flood of memories
PHILADELPHIA Frank Weichec Jr. wasn't around to speak for himself for a story on his retirement. He was with his beautiful wife, Alice, cruising his 41-foot motor yacht off South Florida.
Instead, his son, Chip Weichec, hunkered down in Norm & Lou?s Restaurant, the social center of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, here, to discuss his father?s career.
Produce industry gets high marks in bioterrorism drill
No contaminants were found on fruits and vegetables tested by the Food & Drug Administration as part of a six-week bioterrorism drill, according to FDA officials.
?This is very good news," said Kathy Means, vice president of the Produce Marketing Association, who added that this just reinforces that levels of contaminants are either extremely low or non-existent on fruits and vegetables.
Global Berry expands marketing department
Global Berry Farms, based in Naples, FL, announced the hiring of Janis McIntosh as associate marketing manager, a new position.
She will be located in Salinas, CA, and will be responsible for coordinating packaging, trade show, and consumer and trade marketing efforts.
Dentelbeck leaving DRC to start consulting business
The Dispute Resolution Corp., the Ottowa-based organization that was created five years ago to facilitate a timely and affordable dispute resolution process in the Canadian produce trade, will lose a key member of its staff March 4 with the departure of Chuck Dentelbeck, director of operations, who announced Feb. 10 that he will leave the organization to start his own consulting company.
Solid fourth-quarter and year-end for Fresh Del Monte
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., a leading global producer and distributor of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, and a top producer and distributor of prepared fruit, vegetables and other products in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, reported solid financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year-ended Dec. 31.
Ballantine adds to sales team
Ballantine Produce Co. in Reedley, CA, announced the addition of Greg Mancini to its sales and marketing team.
Mr. Mancini will be involved in all areas of sales of the company, including domestic and imported tree fruit, grapes and specialty items.
His experience in marketing stone fruit and grape programs will add depth to the Ballantine organization and sales strength to its diverse product offerings.
C.H. Robinson acquires produce sourcing and marketing companies
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., based in Minneapolis has acquired the operations and certain assets of three produce sourcing and marketing companies: FoodSource Inc., FoodSource Procurement LLC and Epic Roots Inc.
The three companies combined had gross revenues of approximately $270 million in 2004.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Survey shows that consumers want to know about source of food
PACIFIC GROVE, CA " A survey conducted by the University of California-Santa Cruz reveals that consumers want to know about the source of the food they eat.
Phil Howard of UC-Santa Cruz?s Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems shared findings of the study at the 25th annual Ecological Farming Conference held here at Asilomar Conference Center in late January. Mr. Howard?s written evaluation and summation of the study were provided to attendees of a seminar he hosted.