Week-in-Review

NatureSweet sues Mastronardi over trademark

NatureSweet, Ltd. is suing rival tomato grower-shipper Mastronardi Produce Ltd. for alleged trademark infringement.

Blueberries in season at McDonald's

McDonald’s is offering fresh blueberries with oatmeal in a seasonal promotion that lasts through Aug. 3.

UPDATED: PACA bars Chicago company in $3.5 million case

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Chicago-based Auster Acquisitions LLC for failure to pay for more than $3.5 million worth of produce.

GreenGate Fresh acquires Metz Fresh

SALINAS, Calif. — GreenGate Fresh LLLP will take over operations of Metz Fresh LLC May 7 in a deal that adds spinach, spring mix and arugula to GreenGate’s product mix.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Salinas-based GreenGate Fresh will continue to ship products under the Metz Fresh label, said Jay Iverson, vice president of sales and marketing.

Distributor Adams Produce Co. files for bankruptcy, closes

Birmingham, Ala.-based distributor Adams Produce Co. LLC has filed for bankruptcy and owes fruit and vegetable suppliers $10.2 million.

Dole reviews possible packaged foods spinoff

Dole Food Co. Inc. posted lower first quarter revenue than in 2011, partially because of the lowest vegetable commodity prices in 15 years, according to company executives who said they are considering spinning off part of the business to increase stock values.

From the show floor: United Fresh 2012 booths, A-E

DALLAS — Editor Greg Johnson, Managing Editor Fred Wilkinson, National Editor Tom Karst and Retail Editor Pamela Riemenschneider collected these news items on the exposition floor at United Fresh 2012 on May 1-3.

From the show floor: United Fresh 2012 booths, F-N

Ready Pac taps sales manager

Ready Pac Foods, Inc., has named Don Brumley regional sales manager.

He comes to Irwindale, Calif.-based Ready Pac from Colorful Harvest, where he was senior director of value-added sales since 2010.

Mastronardi Produce: Trademark suit unfounded

Mastronardi Produce, Ltd., target of a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by NatureSweet, Ltd., is calling the legal action baseless.

NatureSweet asked a federal court to force Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce to drop the Angel Sweet name and winged-grape tomato design from a product expected to start shipping this month.