Latest News From Kari Slagel

Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif., suggests retailers should carry dragon fruit to give consumers an escape.

Increasing automation, using bio-based materials and stepping up recycling education efforts are a few ways suppliers have responded to sustainable packaging demands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Live Oak Farms, Le Grand, Calif., has started its organic green bell pepper program.

Index Fresh is offering Colombian avocados for the third season.

Chiquita has earned the Blue Flag Award again.

The Washington Apple Education Foundation replaced its annual scholarship luncheon with a scholarship celebration film.

DMA Solutions, Dallas, is offering “Marketing Matters,” a web seminar for produce professionals.

Stemilt’s Artisan Organics peach and nectarine crops are available in two new packs.

Side Delights is promoting immunity-boosting properties of potatoes.

Homegrown Organic Farms, Porterville, Calif., is adding jumbo organic kiwifruit to its lineup.

The United Fresh Produce Association is seeking applications for 2020 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarships.

Morning Kiss Organic, Chelsea, Mass., is adding gold kiwifruit to its list of products.

Promotora Agricola El Toro, a grower, packer and shipper with nearly 10,000 acres in Baja California, Mexico, has earned Equitable Food Initiative certification.

Dole Food Co. has partnered with Pixar film “Monsters Inc.” to launch recipes, serving suggestions, digital and social activations, family-friendly activities, trivia and influencer partnerships.

A & A Organic Farms, Watsonville, Calif., has added organic French beans from Guatemala to its list of items.

Homegrown Organic Farms has received Bee Better certification for Oregon blueberries.

Table grape growers in California awarded nine California college students with scholarships.

Choptank has been recognized as a “Best & Brightest Company to Work For” and ranked on the “50 Best Companies to Sell For.”

California Giant Berry Farms announced winners of its third annual Chef Invitational culinary competition.

The National Mango Board is a sponsor of Kitchen Collaborative, a recipe development initiative in which chefs partner with sponsors to create recipes.

Potato and onion grower-shipper RPE, Bancroft, Wis., is adopting How2Recycle package labeling for Tasteful Selections products.

Chiquita is releasing new fitness-related stickers on bananas in July to encourage fun, healthy living.

Natural Delights is highlighting national parks in July with facts, activities and snacks to enjoy while visiting.

Pretty Lady Vineyards released a Virtual Grape Guide to help retailers.

Tasteful Selections continues its 10-year anniversary celebration campaign as a partner in the kitchen.

A culinary instructor who created an “escape room” to complement her course in food safety and sanitation has been recognized by the Idaho Potato Commission.

Wonderful Pistachios won Delicious Living magazine’s 2020 Best Bite Awards for its No Shells Honey Roasted and Chili Roasted.

With the domestic chili pepper deal approaching, chili producers and marketers are preparing for a season of flavor. 

With consumers buying more chili peppers every year, specialty peppers are taking up a larger portion of retail.

LGS Specialty Sales, New Rochelle, N. Y., kicked off its summer citrus with lemons from Argentina and Chile.

Homegrown Organic Farms is partnering with Valles del Sur, a Chilean grower, to import organic blueberries.

Although the trade show experience was all online at United Fresh LIVE!, some attendees spent a lot of time visiting different booths.

Wholesum published its annual Conscientious Company Report focusing on sustainability efforts made in 2019.

California Giant Berry Farms is starting summer blueberry season with strong volumes in the Pacific Northwest.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is inviting retailers and commissaries to enter its Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest.

Washington apple specialty license plates will be available to order from the Department of Licensing July 1.

Graphic Design USA honored Moxxy Marketing with the 2020 American Web Design Award for its Southeast Produce Council website redesign.

Stemilt Growers’ summer stone fruit is arriving, giving retailers a chance to boost summer fruit and organic fruit categories.

The National Mango Board is having a webinar about evolving mango strategy.

Produce for Kids has a new website with detailed recipes and other information designed to engage consumers.

Pineapple grower-importer Chestnut Hill Farms is partnering with Fresh Fruit, a Dominican Republic exporter, to provide organic fair-trade bananas to East Coast and Gulf Coast states.

A study has found that a compound found in grapes is associated with a 48% decrease in risk of Alzheimer dementia.

Ocean Mist Farms conducted its annual Gold Standard promotion from April 13 to May 13.

The Angelcot season has begun, but quantities are limited.

Ocean Mist Farms is introducing a purple artichoke, a colorful seasonal variety selected for its flavor and appearance.

Dan’l Mackey Almy, president and CEO of DMA Solutions, will speak about “marketing in sensitive times” at United Fresh LIVE!

Bee Sweet Citrus has introduced a wash line to ensure fruit is free of the Asian citrus psyllid, which spread huanglongbing, aka HLB.

Little Leaf Farms, Devens, Mass., is a sponsor of the 2020 Pan-Mass Challenge cycling event to raise funds for cancer research and treatment, which has moved to virtual event this year because of the pandemic.

A 2019 study conducted by IRI, a Chicago-based market intelligence and analytics company, found that Side Delights Steamables is leading the microwave/steamable potato segment.

Domex Superfresh Growers has named the recipients of its five annual scholarships.