Coastline hires account manager
Coastline Family Farms, Salinas, Calif., has added to its sales staff and added a new vendor partner, said Tami Gutierrez, vice president of sales and marketing.
Carmen Placensia, most recently with NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, Salinas, has joined the company as new business development key account manager, Gutierrez said.
The company has added Muzzi Family Farms as a vendor partner in its loading facility, Coast American Cooling in nearby Castroville.
Muzzi’s main items include spring mix, baby leaf lettuces and spinach.
Duda transitions back to Salinas
As of April 9, Salinas, Calif.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. had fully transitioned its product line — except for celery — from its fall-winter growing area in the desert back to Salinas, said Martin Jefferson, production manager.
“Volumes are looking good,” he said in mid-April, “and while we’re experiencing slightly lighter weights on products, this has not affected retail distribution.”
Some spring rains were continuing, but the company was experiencing “minimal setbacks without any tangible imposition on our harvesting capabilities or crop quality,” he said.
Green Giant has vegetable bowls
Salinas, Calif.-based Growers Express LLC is introducing a line of Green Giant Fresh vegetable meal bowls, said Lori Bigras, director of marketing and communications.
The line offers six distinct world flavors — Burrito Bowl, Fried Rice Bowl, Pad Thai Bowl, Rancheros Bowl, Ramen Bowl and Buddha Bowl — that can be microwaved right in their bowl and ready in minutes, she said. They’re made with 100% fresh vegetables.
The Burrito Bowl and Fried Rice Bowl now are available, and the others will follow in May.
Lucky Strike adds Mexico deal
Burlingame, Calif.-based Lucky Strike Farms is developing a new shipping and distribution deal out of Mexico through California’s Imperial Valley and McAllen, Texas, said president Gib Papazian.
The program, which involves direct shipments from two growers in Mexico, runs from November until June and includes mostly broccoli crowns, Brussels sprouts and some asparagus.
Until now, the company has focused primarily on U.S.-grown product, he said.
Mann launches Veggie line
Salinas, Calif.-based Mann Packing Co. launched its first complete line of fresh Veggie Noodles and Veggie Rice in mid-April, according to a news release.
After the successful launch of its Spicy Thai Nourish Bowls last year, the company now offers a full line of standalone veggie noodle products including Butternut Squash “Rotini,” Kohlrabi “Linguine” and Sweet Potato “Fettuccine,” the release said.
Mann’s new Fresh Veggie Rice products are made from a variety of vegetables and are a convenient alternative to traditional rice, according to the release.
The new rice blends include Cauliflower “Rice,” Broccoli & Sweet Potato “Rice” Blend and Cauliflower “Fried Rice” Blend that includes carrots, kohlrabi and sugar snap peas.
Romaine a hit for Tanimura & Antle
The romaine family of products, including romaine hearts and Artisan romaine, has seen the most significant growth so far this year at Salinas, Calif.-based Tanimura & Antle, said Anthony Mazzuca, senior director of commodity management.
“Additionally, our organically grown romaine hearts and Artisan romaine launch in 2017 has been an overwhelming success,” he said.
“Weekly production plans have already been increased due to customer demand.”
The company plans to launch organic iceberg, green leaf, red leaf, Sweet Gem and Artisan lettuce in 2018, he said.
Uesugi adds organic corn
Uesugi Farms, Gilroy, Calif., has expanded its organic sweet corn program as it brings in new growers and the product enters its second year, said Pete Aiello, co-owner.
Uesugi Farms put out a 48-count box of conventional corn for about 10 years before adding the organic value-added package of four “topped-and-tailed” ears of corn in an overwrapped tray, he said.
The company still is working to perfect the organic production process, which involves “a whole new level of difficulty,” Aiello said.
So far, availability has been limited to the West Coast because the company has not been able to produce enough to fully satisfy the demand, he said.
“It has good visual appeal,” Aiello said. “We hear it flies off the shelf pretty fast.”
