Latest News From Gregory Johnson

Onion industry veteran Cliff Riner joins G&R Farms, Glennville, Ga., as crop production manager.

The Guatemalan Produce Trade Association’s new website aims to better connect buyers and importers of Guatemalan produce items.

This wasn’t a granola organic event. The third annual Organic Produce Summit, July 11-12 in Monterey, showed that organic is an important part of the produce business, with the emphasis on the business.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2018-19 budget includes $12.5 million from the general fund dedicated to fighting huanglongbing.

Waukesha, Wis.-based KHS USA Inc. plans to purchase the assets of Fairfield, N.J., packaging equipment manufacturer Scandia Packaging Machinery Co.

The Packer has added two to its sales staff.

Packaging solution company TNA opened an office in Mexico City to support local food manufacturers.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board plans to kick off its summer promotions with a digital campaign for “watermelon on the go.”

Cindy Jewell’s produce story is inspiring, but it has themes many in the produce industry recognize. It’s a story of good fortune, hard work, overcoming obstacles and now teaching others.

Studies published in Business Week show that 62% of mergers and acquisitions fail to achieve the negotiated revenue, market share and profit increases.

Masser Potato Farms, Sacramento, Pa., hired Charles “Chip” Callahan as director of foodservice sales.

Maglio Companies is buying out its former partner, Boston Fresh LLC.

Salinas, Calif.-based The Nunes Company is partnering again with celebrity Brooke Shields, who the company first started working with nearly 30 years ago.

Village Farms has a new packaging plan for six of its snacking tomatoes.

Once the management practices and strategic plan is solid, and you have positioned the business to move forward with a liquidity event, what are the next steps?

Delightful Quality Produce Company has hired a new vice president of sales and business development.

Business owners in the produce industry face a convergence of factors that make this a unique time to exit their business.

Color is an ally for retailers who are looking to move peppers, marketers say.

Liberty Fruit Co. CEO Arnold Caviar celebrated his last day as CEO with friends, family and business partners May 18.

The Packer’s 4th Annual West Coast Produce Expo attracted more exhibitors, attendees and buyers to its unique mix of business, networking and fun May 11-12.

The Packer expects its 4th annual West Coast Produce Expo to be the biggest and best.

C&C Produce celebrated its 25th anniversary with about 500 suppliers, customers, transportation partners and employees May 4 at its Kansas City headquarters.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Produce for Better Health Foundation has the destination: Double fruit and vegetable consumption. The plan to get there should emerge in the next year.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fruits and vegetables are the retail stars in more ways than one, a panel of retailers said at the Produce for Better Health Foundation’s annual meeting April 3-6.

Kansas City, Kan.-based wholesaler Liberty Fruit Co. hired a new CEO. John McClelland starts May 14.

Football coach Herm Edwards highlights The Packer’s West Coast Produce Expo’s education program as keynote speaker for the May 12-13 event.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation is embarking on a year of refresh, as it announces a new marketing agency partner, Padilla and its FoodMinds division.

DENVER – Despite the uncertainty with international trade, potato exports see significant gains.

NASHVILLE — Watermelon grower-shipper Melon 1 has expanded its partnership with CHEP, which will now include on-site pallet storage and international shipments using CHEP pallets.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Meet Savannah Christensen, the 2018 National Watermelon Queen, who was named national queen at the National Watermelon Association’s 104th annual convention, Feb. 21-24.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation named The Packer among its Fruits & Veggies — More Matters Industry Role Models and Champions for 2017.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Organic produce isn’t a segment of the business with which to merely flirt. It often takes a big commitment.

SAN DIEGO — Giving kids access to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools through the government’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is just a step toward a greater goal.

Produce buyers are looking to expand their knowledge and customer base for organic fruits and vegetables at The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo.

Chilean blueberry shippers exported a record amount in for a week, the second-to-last week of 2017.

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council seeks nominees for its regional member and alternate positions.

Weber Scientific’s new sanitation tool produces a test result an order of magnitude or higher than competitive products.

Miami-based Eagle Packaging Machinery introduced a corner post tray former for display packages in club stores.

The first breakbulk vessel shipment of Chilean summer fruit arrived at the port of Los Angeles just before Christmas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Pharr, Texas, busted a shipment of avocados hiding more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana.

Jamie Phillips, director of scientific affairs for SPINS Marketing, will give the opening keynote address Jan. 26 at the start of the education track at The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo.

The Packer now offers several powerful new features on its Produce Market Guide online platform all related to the growing organic produce category.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue appointed 13 people to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

J&J Family of Farms, Westlake, Fla., enters the organic business with a new brand, Farmganic. The new line starts with certified organic green peppers, yellow squash, zucchini and cucumbers.

Chef Michelle Bernstein will educate and entertain attendees of The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo at the Jan. 27 breakfast before the expo.

Employees rated the U.S. Department of Agriculture as among the top 10 best places to work in the federal government.

Sponsor Stemilt Growers Inc. and Peirone Produce and its partner retailers in the Northwest ran an Apple Cup competition to increase apple sales in October.

The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo, Jan. 25-27 in Hollywood, Fla., has finalized its education program.

Dave’s Specialty Imports will have its own strawberries from Florida this winter, as it will ship from about 100 acres.

Organic integrity is everyone’s responsibility.