J. Bonafede Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, was founded in 1912. The company began as a produce company at the market that was then located in downtown Boston. In 1966, officials in the city wanted to renovate the area, and gave businesses within a half-mile-square section orders to evacuate. Produce professionals came together and the New England Produce Center in Chelsea opened in 1968.

Today, J. Bonafede Co. is operated by Eugene Fabio, president, and his brother, Butch, who is treasurer.

“We’re pretty much in full swing now, with at least a little product coming from about everywhere,” Ken Cavallaro, treasurer of John Cerasuolo Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, told The Produce News. “The Northeast will peter out completely soon, and we’ll start working with Southeast, Mexico and California suppliers.

“We are moving our basic lineup of vegetables currently,” he continued. “As always, we handle a full line of vegetables from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.”

Sanger, CA, citrus grower and General Manager of Orange Cove — Sanger Citrus Association Kevin Severns was unanimously elected to serve as the 2013-14 California Citrus Mutual board chairman.

NEW ORLEANS — The Grant J. Hunt Co., headquartered in Oakland, CA, introduced a four-pound bag of California oranges complete with Tajín seasoning. The new item debuted at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention, here.

The bag will be available year round and will feature California Navel or Valencia oranges, depending upon the season

Turbana, a leading supplier of bananas and vegetables from Colombia, has partnered with the One Laptop Per Child organization to bring rugged, durable laptops to remote impoverished area. The goal is to provide access to knowledge that can change lives.

Find out more about the program in this video.

The National Mango Board has honored Michael Schutt of Raley's as its 2013 Mango Retailer of the Year. Finalists for the award, also known as Mango Model Retailers, were Keith Durham of Brookshire's, Dick McKellogg of Lowes Foods and Tom Eynon of Giant Eagle.

These individuals and their companies were recognized at the NMB's Mango Industry Reception Oct. 19 at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit convention in New Orleans.