The Packer
Brookshire Grocery Company and Wazobia African Market are new companies to the Market. Carleton Farms, Frecon Fruit Farms Inc., Paradise Meadows, Pattersons Fruit Farm, Satur Farms and others have updates.
Fresh produce industry groups are alerting growers and other PACA licensees about the importance of maintaining the protections afforded by the law as the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 continues.
The Packer’s Tom Karst visited March 30 with Ken Lund, vice president of operations for the Allen Lund Company, La Canada Flintridge, Calif.
Hazel Technologies Inc., Chicago, has hired Kelly Dietz as vice president of sales.
Kam Chiu Lee, co-founder of Fresh Direct Produce Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, has died.
SFL Cos., Rochester, Mich., has been named a 2020 Rock Star of the Supply Chain by Food Logistics.
In a show of solidarity, Miss Chiquita is staying home, too.
The Packer’s Tom Karst visited March 25 with Alex DiNovo, president and chief operating officer of DNO Produce, the Columbus, Ohio-based distributor.
Exports typically don’t account for much of the volume from California avocado grower-shippers, but most companies have at least a small export program, which they say can be quite lucrative.
Phoenix Microgreens, Sunshine Orchards and Y Hata & Co Limited are new companies to the Market. Arca Organics, La Galera Produce LLC, Lynn-Ette & Sons Inc., Oneonta Trading Corp. and others have updates.
WestFresh Distributing Inc., Monterey, Calif., has hired Bonny Iten to manage the company’s new office in the Coachella Valley.
The volume of bagged avocados continues to increase every year as consumers seek convenience and/or value options, and retailers discover another way to merchandise avocados and drive sales of multiple pieces of fruit.
The Packer’s Tom Karst visited March 25 with Christopher Valdez, president, and Abby Taylor-Silva, vice president of policy and communications, for the Salinas-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
The fresh produce industry is facing unprecedented losses with the COVID-19 pandemic according to Western Growers, which is asking the USDA to cover all PACA claims to ensure produce sellers are fully protected.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act administrative complaint against the Enson Group LLC, doing business as Eternal Food Service.
The USDA announced actions taken regarding Enson Trading Corp. and PAB Produce Inc. Holistic Solutions Global and King Specialty Foods are new companies to the Market. Cinnabar Produce and others have changes.
The Packer’s Tom Karst talks on March 26 with Jason Resnick, vice president and general counsel for Western Growers, about the current foodservice crisis tied to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
PAB Produce Inc., Los Angeles, has posted a surety bond with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to employ Jose Del Toro Jr.
The Andrew and Phyllis D’Arrigo Charitable Foundation, Salinas, Calif., is donating to Monterey County non-profit organizations as residents comply with a shelter-in-place order in the county.
The Department of State is taking steps to reduce delays in the processing of H-2A workers caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Packer’s Tom Karst visited on March 26 with Richard Owen, vice president of global membership and engagement for the Produce Marketing Association.
Organics Unlimited, San Diego, is using funds from its Disaster Relief GROW sub-fund to help workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Michigan Potato Industry Commission, Lansing, has donated $5,000 to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, to be used by food banks to purchase potatoes.
The United Fresh Produce Association is extending the application period for the 26th class of its leadership program because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has compiled a list of FAQs for the Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act as customers ask suppliers about extending payment terms.
Fair Trade-certified bananas are arriving at Earl’s Organic Produce in San Francisco more quickly this year than they had previously, said Rodrigo Velasquez, banana specialist.
Oke USA Fruit Co./Equal Exchange Produce has intensified its consumer-focused marketing efforts on behalf of the three grower cooperatives with which it works in Ecuador and Peru.
Produce and allied industry companies are finding ways to help consumers whose finances have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with donations of produce and resources.
Nearly $10 million has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 11 multi-state projects that seek to boost the competitiveness of specialty crops.
ERC Produce has been Endorsed. Exp Group LLC, Flaum Appetizing Corp., Nellai Marts Worthington Lewis Center, Ocean Sunbelt Produce Inc., and PNW Veg Co LLC are new companies to the Market. Plus, many company updates.