HLB Specialties, a leading papaya importer and distributor based in Pompano Beach, FL, has launched a campaign to educate buyers about Formosa papayas, also known as Tainung papayas.

As the company approaches its 25th year in existence, the challenge of educating buyers and consumers about their products still remains, according to Sales Director Lorenz Hartmann de Barros, and HLB Specialties hopes to simplify customers' lives by turning them into informed purchasers.

Tops Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, has partnered with Independent Health on a program that will reward the health plan's members for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables.

Independent Health is the first health plan in New York state to introduce a nutrition benefit as part of its health coverage that provides members with the opportunity to receive money-back rewards for buying fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sewell, NJ-based Sierra Produce hired NORMAN BARAO JR. as category manager, berry and citrus, on June 15.

The partnership announced between Curry & Co. and Suncrest Produce Solutions LLC is expected to provide both businesses with a marketplace advantage this season.

“Our customers want sweet onions year-round, and this partnership with Suncrest Produce strengthens our existing sweet onion program and will triple or even quadruple our Peruvian import volumes,” Curry & Co. President Matt Curry said in May when the partnership was announced.

On Aug. 7, Fred Hess, co-owner of Hess Bros. Fruit Co. in Lancaster, PA, said that the company’s crop condition was in very good shape this year.

“It looks like we’ll be slightly down this year in volume, but it’s pretty comparable to a year ago,” Hess said. “The fruit size looks good. We’ve had lots of rain, and apple trees like a lot of moisture this time of year. Some of the early varieties are coloring on nicely.”

Peppadew Fresh, the Morganville, NJ-based operation that produces fresh Peppadew Gold peppers, has joined with the charitable organization Farmers Against Hunger to benefit area residents in need.

Farmers Against Hunger started in 1996 as a way for farmers throughout New Jersey to contribute extra produce to those in need. The organization uses volunteers to pack and transport the surplus product to food banks and pantries, thus relieving farmers from those duties.