Search - The Packer

In times of recession, consumers eat at home more, but they also splurge on those food purchases for home rather than splurge by eating out, says a food-marketing expert.

The Produce Marketing Association, citing misinformation about produce and the industry in the COVID-19 crisis, is launching a campaign to connect directly with consumers to assure them produce is available and safe.

Big E Produce has been Endorsed. Sleeper’s Market and Summit Ag LLC are new companies to the Market. Allied Grape Growers, Gencon Inc., Oakdale Farms Country Barn, Potomac Vegetable Farms Inc., and others have updates.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Oviedo, Fla., connected with consumers in March — National Celery Month — to promote the vegetable as the “It-gredient.”

Am Group Inc., New York Produce Inc., Start Produce Inc., and V & M Fresh Produce LLC have been sanctioned by USDA. Coop 303 and Valley Packing Inc. are new firms to the Market. A & R Fresh LLC and others have changes.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 1 with Paul Manfre, general manager of Top Katz LLC, Bronx, N.Y.

CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, Wash., has formed a partnership with Yakima Fruit and Storage Co., adding more than three million boxes of apples to CMI’s annual offerings.

Aptar Food + Beverage, Plantar De Colombia, and Revol Greens are new companies to the Market. Baker Produce Inc., Don Limón America Inc., Shipley Sales LLC, Sweet Darling Sales Inc., and others have updates.

Giunta’s Meat Farms and Jerry Lee’s are new companies to the Market. Bright Produce Co., Infinite Herbs & Specialties LLC, Engelmann Farms Inc., Full Harvest, George Amaral Ranches Inc., and others have updates.

It was ugly. It was all at once curious, sad, remarkable, shocking and sobering.