Sun Belle acquires Texas facility for berry distribution
Berry company Sun Belle Inc. is acquiring CoolHouse Distribution Center LLC, in Laredo, Texas.
When the sale is final, it will join other Sun Belle DCs in Jessup, Md.; Miami; Shiller Park, Ill.; and Oxnard, Calif.
The facility opened in 2017 and has 35,000 square feet of refrigerated and freezer space on 11.4 acres, with room to double in size, according to a news release. It is located between Laredo’s two border bridges, the Colombia Solidarity Bridge and the World Trade Bridge.
Sun Belle facility completes first of two solar energy projects
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.
The 450 kW solar array system at the 64,000-square-foot Jessup, Md., center covers 33,500 square feet of the roof area, generating enough energy to power 48 homes, according to a news release. It was installed by Aurora Energy Inc., Columbia, Md.
“Due to our constant refrigeration demands, we sought a solution that would offset rising utility costs and make a positive environmental impact,” Janice Honigberg, president of Sun Belle Inc., said in the release. “Aurora Energy offered a perfect solution for us with the added benefit of being able to utilize land adjacent to our facility as a pollinator meadow.”
Naturipe adds recycle label on packaging
Naturipe Farms has taken a big step forward in its commitment to sustainability.
The Salinas, Calif.-based berry grower is adding the How2Recycle label on packaging to help ensure that consumers properly recycle, said Janis McIntosh, director of marketing innovation and sustainability.
All Naturipe products, including organic and conventional strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and avocados eventually will include the How2Recycle logo in the design, she said.
Bush berries in good supply
Ample supplies of good-quality blueberries still are available from U.S. growers, and raspberries and blackberries are in good supply as well.
Growers in Oregon were able to squeeze a couple more weeks out of their blueberry crops than usual this summer, said Luciano Fiszman, blueberry category manager for Los Angeles-based Gourmet Trading Co.
The blueberry harvest typically transitions from Oregon to British Columbia around the Fourth of July, he said.
Well-Pict offers free retail kit
Well-Pict Berries, Watsonville, Calif., is helping retailers increase their online berry sales by offering a free digital retail kit, said Jim Grabowski, director of marketing.
Marketing materials for all levels of the produce department, from buyers to merchandisers, will be included in the kit, which will contain promotional social media posts, information on growing seasons and regions and cross merchandising guides.
Free point-of-sale posters also will be available.
Grabowski said he is confident the digital retail kit will increase sales by boosting strawberry and raspberry promotions.
Tomra opens regional headquarters in Chile
Tomra Food has opened a Latin America regional headquarters in Santiago, Chile.
The facility gives Tomra and its sister companies Compac and BBC Technologies better access to fresh produce and other food shippers and processors, according to a news release from the Leuven, Belgium, company. The facility includes service and sales personnel.
Tomra, Compac and BBC Technologies offer grading and sorting equipment, along with other technology used in food packing.
“Opening our new regional headquarters is another step forward in providing local access to our global network of training, technical expertise and services across the whole Latin American region, which exports a significant portion of the global trade in fresh produce,” Ken Moynihan, CEO of Compac, said in the release. “ … And to succeed in this high-value market, exporters need the best packing lines, which is where we add value to their business.”
