Mission Produce Inc., based in Oxnard CA, has hired Jose Maldonado as its new director of global logistics.

“As an industry, we have been fortunate to develop a year-round consumption trend with consumers” for California-grown almonds and walnuts, said Matt Mariani, who oversees sales and marketing activities for Mariani Nut Co. in Winters, CA.

“But we are still fortunate to have that key holiday selling season for the nuts” due to their “many traditional uses and applications” during that period. “We get a nice pump during the holiday time,” really starting with “back-to-school” in September and continuing “all the way through the end of the year.”

The main business of D. DeFranco & Sons in Los Angeles is doing value added packaging of fresh produce items, specifically washed and trimmed green beans and washed and trimmed ready-to-cook super sweet corn, for retail. But for many years, the company has also had a sizeable holiday-oriented in-shell nut business.

As part of its presence at the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics’ annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo Oct. 19-22, the Hass Avocado Board announced its new graphic mark and marketing campaign — Love One Today — a new, multi-year science-based food and wellness education program to the more than 8,500 health professional community in attendance. 

CERRITOS, CA — Nearly 300 produce industry professionals packed the Sheraton Cerritos for the Fresh Produce & Floral Council Membership Luncheon Nov. 6. KNBC4 Los Angeles sports anchor Fred Roggin was the luncheon's featured guest speaker. The FPFC's Annual Holiday Luncheon & Charity Auction is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Sheraton Cerritos.

{2jtoolbox gallery id:40}

Meijer will double match every customer’s $10 Simply Give donation made Nov. 15-16 to celebrate five years of feeding hungry families through its program that aims to restock the shelves of food pantries in the communities it serves.