JOH, a leading independent food broker based in Billerica, MA, hired Julia Costanza as a produce business manager in the Pittsburgh-Cleveland region.

Costanza brings a decade of experience in the food industry, with a strong background in produce buying, forecasting and category management. She began her career working on the produce order desk at a large Mid-Atlantic-based customer, and later as a produce buyer’s assistant, managing multiple categories, negotiating orders and overseeing financial billing. 

GardenChoice announced that Bloomin’ Easy Plants Inc. has joined as a full partner. GardenChoice’s mission is to bring leading edge genetics from independent breeders to the global market. It is a strategic alliance between Rick Grazzini’s GardenGenetics LLC, global lily leader Zabo Plant Inc., perennial input producer Pioneer Gardens Inc. and now Bloomin’ Easy Plants Inc., the brand for young homeowners.

There is an abundance of different melon varieties. The most popular are cantaloupes, honeydews and watermelons. However, there are other choices available, such as Crenshaw, Persian, Canary, Galia — and actually thousands of watermelon varieties as well.

Pure Flavor is eager to launch an upcoming consumer-facing campaign designed to ignite creativity in the kitchen and drive tomato sales this fall: Rocco’s Sauce Night – The Secret’s in the Sauce.

Tops Friendly Markets, its customers and associates raised $414,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals this year.

SL Produce, a leading fresh vegetable producer-exporter based in Los Mochis, Mexico, has committed to making ongoing, substantial investments in a highly ambitious sustainability strategy, which it hopes will help alleviate challenging growing conditions.