Peter Vallis, former partner in Farmer's Fresh Fruit Co. in Reedley, CA, and his wife, Demitra Vallis, have opened a new marketing company representing grape growers in California's Central Valley.

Called Empire Grape Co. LLC, the new entity, which officially launched Feb. 6, is based in Kingsburg, CA.

Handling sales for Empire Grape are Jay Stover and Susan Lucas.

“Westmoreland Sales is a privately owned, leading year-round greenhouse grower and shipper with a very strong diversified customer base,” said Ken Green, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Westmoreland Sales in Leamington, ON. “We continue adding greenhouse space to our operation, and we are always looking to expand our customer base with good customers.”

Marc Holbik, director of grower relations for Ecoripe Tropicals in Medley, FL, told The Produce News that the company carries a widely diverse line of Asian fruits and vegetables. But it also imports a wide variety of tropical products from South and Central America.

JJ Distribution LLC in Nogales, AZ, a produce brokerage formed about seven years ago, has become increasingly involved in logistics over the years and somewhat less focused on buying and selling produce, according to Jose (Joe) Maytorena Jr., managing partner.

It got to where the company was doing more with transportation than with produce, so the decision was made to launch a new subsidiary company, Eastbound Logistics Co. The new entity was launched in early February.

Jose Maytorena Sr. is manager of the new company.

On the heels of last year's food-safety issue, which resulted in the recall of thousands of cartons of mangos in the United States and Canada because of Salmonella Braenderup, the industry is hosting a Mango Food Safety Conference March 6 in McAllen, TX.

The all-day seminar will be held in the McAllen Conference Center just prior to the start of the America Trades Produce Conference & Expo, which is jointly sponsored by the Texas International Produce Association and the Nogales, AZ-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture premiered its new Jersey Fresh advertising campaign Feb. 7 during the annual state agricultural convention, with its sports-themed "Another Great Season."