Buona Foods adds mystery to website
Buona Foods Inc., Landenberg, Pa., has updated its website, buonafoods.com, with a new look that includes new photos, new recipes and a blog built around a murder mystery called “Cadaver Blues,” said Gale Ferranto, president.
The story takes place in a small town and “mixes mystery with mushrooms.”
Dole Mushrooms rolls out new labels, health info
Dole Mushrooms, Kennett Square, Pa., has unveiled labels for its mushroom packaging, said Gary Schroeder, director. The new look is an eye-appealing design change, he said.
“For the first time for us, we’re making some very significant health claims that have been approved to put on labels,” Schroeder said.
The labels will point out that mushrooms are a good source of phosphorous and promote strong bones and teeth and help maintain a healthy heart. The Dole brand name should help make the new look and the health claims even more effective, Schroeder said.
Giorgio handling sales for Modern Mushrooms
Giorgio Fresh Co., Blandon, Pa., and Modern Mushroom Farms, Avondale, Pa., have agreed to transition the Modern Mushroom fresh mushroom business to the Giorgio family of brands, said Bill Litvin, vice president of sales and national account manager for Giorgio.
Giorgio and Modern Mushroom have combined their sales and marketing efforts, and Modern Mushroom’s customer service staff is also now a part of the Giorgio operation.
Modern Mushroom Farms will continue to be owned by the Ciarrocchi family and will grow mushrooms that will be marketed by Giorgio under the Modern Farms label.
Giorgio, which will continue to offer its Green Giant Fresh brand, will manage Modern Mushroom’s packing facility.
Highline Mushrooms undergoing expansion
Highline Mushrooms, Leamington, Ontario, is expanding its Kingsville, Ontario, farm, said Hsian Kim, corporate communications manager.
The project, which should be completed by spring, includes the addition of specialized chambers and new growing rooms. The company also has had good response to its RPET trays and is looking to convert its entire line to RPET.
“Between the months of January to October of 2012, we were able to divert 91 metric tons from landfill,” Kim said.
Highline now includes quick-response codes on all of its products “to inspire consumers in their everyday cooking,” she said.
“Our QR codes are product-specific and provide dynamic information with ever-changing content. Since its introduction we have seen a steady increase in the number of scans.”
Monterey Mushrooms expands bag program
Watsonville, Calif.-based Monterey Mushrooms Inc. is expanding distribution of its 10-ounce zip-top bags of sliced baby portabellas and sliced white button mushrooms into the Northeast, said Joe Caldwell, vice president.
The product currently is in distribution in the West, Midwest and Texas.
The bags include cooking instructions and recipe information that is difficult to offer on standard packages because of the lack of printable area, he said.
The company also has a sustainable paper tray that has space for recipes and other information and is available nationwide in 8-, 12-, 16- and 24-ounce sizes.
Phillips to enhance portabella product
Phillips Mushroom Farms, Kennett Square, Pa., expects to have a vitamin D-enhanced portabella mushroom product available shortly, said Kevin Donovan, national sales manager.
“We’re testing the waters to see whether there is demand out there for that,” he said.
The company plans to offer a 6-ounce package of mushroom caps and a 6-ounce package of sliced product.
The company is finishing the second expansion of its white mushroom production facility. The project should significantly increase company’s white mushroom production.
Ponderosa shipping to retailer in Dubai
Ponderosa Mushrooms & Specialty Foods, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, now is shipping to Dubai, said Joe Salvo, president. The program started about four months ago.
“So far, it’s been a pretty good success,” Salvo said.
The company sees “huge market potential” in the area, especially with foodservice.
As of late last year, the company was shipping 12 stock-keeping units of mostly specialty mushrooms, like Ponderosa’s Chef’s Mix, portabellas, enokis, king oysters and shitakes, to a retail chain.
To-Jo puts site into preservation program
To-Jo Mushrooms, Avondale, Pa., has entered its 133-acre farm site in Pennsylvania’s Elk Township into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, said Paul Frederic, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
The To-Jo farm site is the 343rd to enter into the program for farmland preservation and the 91st to enter into the Chester County Challenge Grant Program and Easement Purchase Program by selling the development rights.
The company hopes to develop the site as a mushroom farm in the coming years, Frederic said.
To-Jo also has added to its capabilities in its packing room and brought in an overwrap machine to enhance its throughput and help handle holiday volume.
The company has leased a farm from a local grower to help supply several new customers, Frederic said. The new facility should enhance the company’s production by 20% or more.
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