The Kroger Co. announced that Senior Vice President Robert (Pete) Williams plans to retire in May after 37 years with the company.  

Williams has served in his current role since 2007. Today, he leads seven supermarket divisions. His replacement will be named at a later date.

After a long, cold winter, Sunkist Growers is brightening up the greatly awaited spring by showcasing fresh, seasonal citrus from California and Arizona at the 2014 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention & Trade Show in Vancouver.

California Giant Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA, a leading producer and marketer of strawberries and other berries, is focusing its promotional efforts not so much on retail-specific programs as on consumer outreach, mainly through social media and other internet channels, according to Cindy Jewell, marketing director.

“We are doing a lot with consumers,” Jewell said.

In early March, Chip Jetter, president of Garden Fresh Distribution Service Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that the company was gearing up to start its watermelon program in early April.

“We’re about to get real busy,” said Jetter. “We jokingly call the period from the first of May through July 4 the ‘100-day watermelon war’ because it is when the demand is the strongest.”

In preparation for the start of the California stone fruit season in early May, fresh-cut peach and nectarine processor Fresh Fruit Cuts, located in Fresno, CA, has made numerous facility upgrades to increase efficiency and volume.

Dan Schatz, general manager at DNE World Fruit Sales, said the company’s fruit has reached the peak of perfection. “Our current fruit is at peak flavor and eats like candy,” he told The Produce News.

Bernard Egan & Co./DNE World Fruit Sales is the largest marketer of Florida fresh citrus and is one of the largest independently owned citrus marketers in the world. DNE is located in Fort Pierce, FL, and shipping operations outside of Florida are found in Texas, Arizona and California. An import sales office and shipping facility are also located in New Jersey.