Latest News From Packer Tech

Measure to Improve, Salinas, Calif., has helped  six facilities achieve Total Resource Use Efficiency (TRUE) Zero Waste Gold Certification.

SFL Cos., Rochester, Mich., was named to Food Logistics’ 2020 list of Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers.

Smurfit Kappa’s Colombia division has an alliance with the World Wildlife Fund Colombia to highlight forest conservation projects.

Triangle Package Machinery Co., Chicago, has hired Jeffrey Schuch as regional sales manager in the Southeast Region.

Tropical fruit shippers Seasons Farm Fresh and AMR Agro recently completed tests of Hazel Technologies products on their products during shipping and have reported successful results.

Berry company Sun Belle Inc. is acquiring CoolHouse Distribution Center LLC, in Laredo, Texas.

The burgeoning online delivery channel is leaving a considerable impact on packaging styles and materials, marketers say.

Two events — the Global Cherry Summit and the Agricultural Water Summit — have been postponed until April in Chile because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Germany’s Edeka Group is offering citrus and avocados treated by Apeel Science’s plant-derived technology in more than 11,000 Edeka and Netto stores throughout Germany.

Chicago-based Hazel Technologies Inc. is launching a new product for apples in storage.

Bronx, N.Y.-based FreshDirect is enhancing its service offering to the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Vertical farming, the bastion of tech start-ups, has attracted the attention of global company Bayer AG, with plans to develop vegetable varieties suited to that indoor farming model.

Just before the fall crop kicks into high gear, the New York Apple Association has unveiled the redesign of its website, applesfromny.com, with fresh content including new photos and video.

Two produce industry veterans, Doug Fisher and Joe Cimino, have established Re Fresh LLC, a Salinas, Calif.-based produce procurement company.

Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., is using packaging to fight pathogens — and not just as a barrier during transport and on retail shelves.

A California startup, Vinergy Inc., has equipment it says will improve vineyard efficiency by reducing a labor-intensive part of harvest — transporting grapes to the end of rows.

Total Quality Logistics, Cincinnati, has received the Best in Cargo Security Award from CargoNet.

Pace International, Wapato, Wash., has redesigned its website.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Summerland, British Columbia, has hired Muhammad Tahir as director of research and regulatory affairs.

Sun Belle Inc. has installed a roof-top solar energy system at its Maryland distribution center, with the capacity to offset more than 35% of its energy needs.

SmartWash Solutions, Salinas, Calif., has released an online tool allowing produce plant managers to monitor real-time performance data on their wash lines chemistry.

The Nunes Co. Inc. and Peri & Sons have completed the expansion of the Walker River Cooling Facility in Yerington, Nev.

The Government of Canada is the first international partner of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology.

Oxnard, Calif.-based Bobalu Berries plans to launch a new website — bobaluberries.com — in early August, said Cindy Jewell, who handles marketing for the company.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited July 28 with Ann Beaulieu, vice president and director of research & development and regulatory affairs at AgroFresh and Fernando Edagi, commercial technical manager for the company.

EarthFresh, Atlanta, is offering its line of conventional and organic potatoes in 100% compostable paper bags.

The United Fresh Produce Association has a web seminar to demonstrate its plans for United Fresh LIVE! 365.

The corporate headquarters of California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, Calif., has received Gold under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste certification program.

Chicago-based Hazel Technologies has partnered with New Zealand rural supplies cooperative Farmlands to provide Hazel Trex technology to kiwifruit growers.

Vegpro International, Sherrington, Quebec, is switching packaging of its Fresh Attitude salads to 100% recycled and recyclable plastic containers from Cascades.

Family Tree Farms, Reedley, Calif., added two new Unitec sorting lines for blueberries this season, following installation of Unitec equipment for blueberries and peaches in 2018 and 2019.