Pumpkins

California Grocer Partners With Farm for Fall Fun

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:25:33 GMT

Each year more than 14,000 visitors come to the Fantozzi Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Patterson, Calif. This year, the 10-acre maze not only offers fun for the whole family, it also tells a unique farm-to-table story starring The Save Mart Cos., the Central Valley grocer with deep roots in the Golden State.

“Our partnership with Save Mart this year has been such a positive experience,” says Denise Fantozzi, who co-owns Fantozzi Farms with her husband, Paul. “Save Mart has been a really important part of our community for years, and so everybody knows about Save Mart and partnering together — showing that pathway from the farm to the grocery store to the table — is something that we can all relate to.”

In the early 2000s, Fantozzi, a former schoolteacher, was looking to incorporate education into fun field trip experiences on the farm and together with her farmer husband opened the first Fantozzi Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in 2003.

While Fantozzi says they started off small, the agri-entertainment farm has added to the experience over the years with scarecrow contests, hayrides, corn hole tournaments, pumpkin painting and more. It also welcomes scores of school-age children through field trips that bring the farm-to-table message to life.

Fantozzi says the corn maze receives repeat visitors from near and far.

“I just love seeing families come back year after year,” she says. “Building that connection with the community, that’s the most rewarding part.”

Over the years, Fantozzi says she’s become personal friends with many of the families who visit the farm, has watched their kids grow up and, in some cases, become employees at the corn maze in their teen years. And then there are those who visited as children who come back with kids of their own.

Designing Memories on the Farm

An aerial view of the Fantozzi Farms and Save Mart corn maze reveals its breathtaking intricacies. How does a 10-acre corn maze spanning more than 5 miles of twisting paths and 12 hidden checkpoints come to be?

“We start off with our design. We think of what we want the design to be, and that’s really sketched out on paper or on the computer,” Fantozzi explains. “From the very beginning, we’ve had a company called Maze Play that comes out, and they have the equipment to cut the maze design, put in all the paths, and they use a small tractor with a rototiller behind it, and a GPS system. They cut those paths very exact, and the final maze looks just like the design we planned.”

This year’s corn maze, which features Save Mart branding integrated in the design, was the brainchild of Jenna Rose Lee, Save Mart Cos. marketing and social media manager.

“This is ag storytelling at its finest, and it’s a connector,” Lee says. “We wanted to showcase the relationship between the farmer and the retailer, and the maze design does just that. It showcases the farm to the family table and the supply chain.

“In the design, you’ll see our logo, but then in addition to that, you see the tractor,” she continues. “There’s a big grocery cart in the middle, and then you also see a home. So, it’s really making that connection between how the food gets from the field to our shelves, to the grocery cart, and to your family’s dinner table.”

The corn maze also features one of Save Mart’s tag lines: “Valley Proud.”

“What we wanted to showcase in this huge display is that we are proud to be here. We’re not going anywhere. We’re ‘Valley Proud,’” Lee says. “We’re proud of our local farmers, and we love our community.

“We were founded in Modesto, Calif, and it’s part of who we are and where we are at the heart of the Central Valley, and it’s important for us to connect with our local farmers who stock our shelves,” she adds. “Partnering with Fantozzi was a true testament to being local and supporting our local farmers.”

Save Mart and Fantozzi Farms Team to Tell Farm-to-Table Story

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:32:26 GMT

Each year more than 14,000 visitors come to the Fantozzi Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Patterson, Calif. This year, the 10-acre maze not only offers fun for the whole family, it also tells a unique farm-to-table story starring The Save Mart Cos., the Central Valley grocer with deep roots in the Golden State.

“Our partnership with Save Mart this year has been such a positive experience,” says Denise Fantozzi, who co-owns Fantozzi Farms with her husband, Paul. “Save Mart has been a really important part of our community for years, and so everybody knows about Save Mart and partnering together — showing that pathway from the farm to the grocery store to the table — is something that we can all relate to.”

In the early 2000s, Fantozzi, a former schoolteacher, was looking to incorporate education into fun field trip experiences on the farm, and together with her farmer husband opened the first Fantozzi Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in 2003.

While Fantozzi says they “started off small,” the agri-entertainment farm has added to the experience over the years with scarecrow contests, hayrides, corn hole tournaments, pumpkin painting and more. It also welcomes scores of school-age children through field trips that bring the farm-to-table message to life.

Fantozzi Farms welcomes scores of children on educational field trips.

(Photo courtesy of Fantozzi Farms)

“We started off just wanting people to come out and learn about farming and where their food comes from and have a fun time,” says Fantozzi. “And over the years we’ve added lots of attractions, and in the last few years, we’ve added events to involve the community more in what’s going on. And that is our goal, to provide the community with a safe, fun experience that they’re going to take a lot of memories away from.”

Fantozzi says the corn maze receives repeat visitors from near and far.

“I just love seeing families come back year after year,” she says. “Building that connection with the community, that’s the most rewarding part.”

Over the years, Fantozzi Farms has expanded the attractions in its agri-entertainment business.

(Photo courtesy of Fantozzi Farms)

In addition to corn and pumpkins, Fantozzi Farms grows watermelons, tomatoes for processing, apricots, almonds and alfalfa.

Over the years, Fantozzi says she’s become personal friends with many of the families who visit the farm, has watched their kids grow up and, in some cases, become employees at the corn maze in their teen years. And then there are those who visited as children who come back with kids of their own.

Fantozzi says the community created by the farm’s corn maze has fostered fun, friendships and even love.

“We’ve had two marriage proposals at the maze, and both of these couples, when they staged their proposals, told us it was because this is where they did a lot of their dating at our corn maze, and that’s where they made their special memories,” she says.

“This is ag storytelling at its finest, and it’s a connector,” says Save Mart’s Jenna Rose Lee.

(Photo courtesy of The Save Mart Cos.)

Building Memories on the Farm

An aerial view of the Fantozzi Farms and Save Mart corn maze reveals its breathtaking intricacies. How does a 10-acre corn maze spanning more than 5 miles of twisting paths and 12 hidden checkpoints come to be?

“We start off with our design. We think of what we want the design to be, and that’s really sketched out on paper or on the computer,” Fantozzi explains. “From the very beginning, we’ve had a company called Maze Play that comes out, and they have the equipment to cut the maze design, put in all the paths, and they use a small tractor with a rototiller behind it, and a GPS system. They cut those paths very exact, and the final maze looks just like the design we planned.”

This year’s corn maze, which features Save Mart branding integrated in the design, was the brainchild of The Save Mart Cos. Marketing and Social Media Manager Jenna Rose Lee.

“This is ag storytelling at its finest, and it’s a connector,” says Lee. “We wanted to showcase the relationship between the farmer and the retailer and the maze design does just that. It showcases the farm to the family table and the supply chain.

“In the design, you’ll see our logo, but then in addition to that, you see the tractor,” she continues. “There’s a big grocery cart in the middle, and then you also see a home. So, it’s really making that connection between how the food gets from the field to our shelves, to the grocery cart, and to your family’s dinner table.”

The corn maze also features one of Save Mart’s taglines: “Valley Proud.”

“What we wanted to showcase in this huge display, is that we are proud to be here. We’re not going anywhere. We’re ‘Valley Proud,’” says Lee. “We’re proud of our local farmers, and we love our community.

“We were founded in Modesto, Calif, and it’s part of who we are and where we are at the heart of the Central Valley, and it’s important for us to connect with our local farmers who stock our shelves,” she adds. “Partnering with Fantozzi was a true testament to being local and supporting our local farmers.”

Made for Social Media

Save Mart is also strengthening the connection between farm to table with a strategic social media campaign that shines a light on Fantozzi’s Farms’ fall bounty.

“Social media is truly how we’re connecting with our shoppers and how we’re learning more about our shoppers,” says Lee. “They love seeing where their food come from. That never gets old.”

Lee says just because you live in the Central Valley, doesn’t mean you’ve been to a farm or engaged with animals.

“I come from an ag background, but I am still learning about so many different crops,” she says. “I think it’s always going to be important to showcase local farmers and the crops that are grown here.”

Study shows promise for organic vegetable growers

Wed, 21 May 2025 17:57:28 GMT

Preliminary results from a from a two-year suggest high-residue cover cropping is “a promising tool,” according to a news release from the Rodale Institute’s California Organic Center. The study compared high-residue cover crops and termination methods on weed suppression, soil moisture retention and yield in organic vegetable production.

The center said the practice could help organic growers seeking to transition away from plastic mulch.

“I think this system has a future,” COC Research Director Arianna Bozzolo told The Packer.

Study overview and findings

The study compared two high-residue cover cropping mixes: oats and vetch, as well as oats and field peas. It also examined tillage or roller crimper termination methods.

Researchers compared these experimental efforts and a fallow control in 2023 and 2024. The cover crops were seeded in March, then terminated in June. Organic pumpkins were planted in late-June and early-July, then harvested in November. The test crop was under drip irrigation to simulate local growing conditions.

COC called the preliminary results promising. It reported the oat and field peas mix terminated via crimping had the most cover-crop biomass at 2,741 pounds per acre. Weed biomass was “significantly lower” in crimped cover crop plots compared to either the tilled plots or the control plot, the center noted.

On soil health metrics, the center said soil moisture was consistently higher in the crimped plots versus the others. This trend continued into the hotter parts of the summer as well. On yields, COC reported the oat and vetch cover crop — especially the crimped termination version — produced more pumpkins per acre.

“These findings suggest that even in the first year of transition, cover crop-based no-till systems — particularly those using oat/vetch mixtures — can support competitive yields while delivering additional soil health and weed suppression benefits,” COC concluded.

The study ran in Camarillo, Calif. Funding came from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Program .

Study designed with growers in mind

Bozzolo said researchers try to keep the needs of organic growers in mind when designing studies. They chose oats as part of the cover cropping mix for their ability to produce a lot of biomass and selected legumes for the nitrogen fixation abilities, though there were other factors involved in the legume selection.

“I particularly like the peas because the peas can give an additional income to the growers,” she said, adding that many small farmers in the area have found success selling pea tendrils for salad and fresh markets.

“Especially here where we are so close to LA, it’s easy to reach out to local restaurants that are interested in these types of crops,” Bozzolo said. “It’s a little niche, something you don’t find in the store.”

Organic growers in California don’t often use cover cropping, she said. High-value specialty crops plus a year-round growing climate makes giving up two to three months for a cover crop unattractive, so Bozzolo said she tries to test cover crops that might hold an economic opportunity for growers.

Some commercial organic farms are trying cover cropping systems for the soil health benefits — but they approach it differently, Bozzolo said.

“Maybe they don’t allocate a whole three months for cover cropping, but they’re doing intercropping,” she said.

Bozzolo described it as looking like “a mohawk of cover crop” between rows of salad greens or broccoli, for example.

“People are trying to include [cover crops],” she said. “They are doing as much as they can to improve soil health, but it’s challenging here.”

Potential for all organic vegetables

While the study was targeted, and Bozzolo stressed the need for more research, she said the concept has the potential for wider application.

“The high-residue cover-cropping system is a system that can be applied to several different kinds of crops,” she said.

The COC research farm had another high-residue cover-cropping trial running on peppers, eggplants and zucchini, for example. However, Bozzolo said finding an efficient way to terminate the cover crops is a challenge.

“If we can find a way to terminate the cover cropping efficiently, that will a good step toward having this system that can be scaled up basically in every state where you can grow vegetables.”

Seen on social: Post those pumpkins

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:23:52 GMT

For every beach-loving fan of summer who lives for firing up the grill, there’s another whose heart leaps at the first hint the leaves turning golden. This is the same person who’s ready for back-to-school shopping, crisp evenings and has been quietly prepping for the fall holidays during the suffocating summer months.

Retailers, capture that autumn-loving audience by using social media to find inspiration for promotion and merchandising plans of those pumpkins and gourds. This fall favorite is taking center stage on porches, countertops and produce departments across the U.S.

And don’t be afraid — boo! — to copy some of the tools employed in these posts in your own social-media strategy.

New Seasons Market

(Farm Journal)

Proving you don’t have to trek to a pumpkin patch to have your moment, Portland, Ore.-based New Seasons Market leans on its locally grown, organic winter squash in an array of colors and sizes. The retailer incorporates hay to create an inviting, tiered display.

Props to the retailer for earning that blue-check verification, and highlighting the local aspect to its pumpkins, as well as the decorative and entertaining uses for them.

Find the retailer on Instagram: @newseasonsmarket

Bay Baby Produce

(Farm Journal)

Fall is go time for this one produce company. Based in Mount Vernon, Wash., Bay Baby Produce was born celebrating autumn. The winter squash-centric grower trains all year for what it calls the “BER months” — think October, November and December — offering hand-painted pumpkins, other decorative gourds and winter squash varieties to retailers nationwide.

Bay Baby has fun with its Instagram reels, using a light-hearted tone that matches the fun take on pumpkins. Take Rerr, the name of the mini pumpkin painted with a ghoulish cat face. The post engages people with the call for help on which accessory looks best on Rerr. Opal the Kitty makes special appearance, and we love the #fashionweek hashtag.

Find the supplier on Instagram: @babybabyproduce

Wegmans Food Markets

(Farm Journal)

Beloved supermarket Wegmans, Rochester, N.Y., celebrates pumpkin season with creative displays across its store, combining fall celebration treats such as apple cider, pies and other mouthwatering autumn-themed desserts alongside gourds large and small. The retailer’s account has it going on, garnering almost 1,400 likes to for the post last fall, plus plenty of comments.

Find the retailer on Instagram: @wegmans

Trader Joe’s

(Farm Journal)

Pinterest was made for pumpkin patches and fall festivities. And Trader Joe’s not only caters to shoppers who want pumpkin spice in every conceivable food product (pumpkin spice hummus, anyone?), but at many stores, the retailer has brought the pumpkin patch directly to shoppers. The Monrovia, Calif,-based retailer has many fan accounts on social media but find inspiration at the source as well.

Find the retailer on Pinterest: @tradersjoes

What pumpkin displays or social posts make you say #ohmygourd? Tell us:

Email: news@thepacker.com and artists@producemarketguide.com

LinkedIn: PMG: Produce Market Guide and The Packer

Instagram: @packernews and @producemktguide

Facebook: @ProduceMktGuide and @PackerNews

Pumpkin yields down in Indiana

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 19:17:09 GMT

By mid-October, one of the telltale signs of fall is out in full force — squat, vibrant orange jack-o’-lanterns adorn front porches and apartment stoops across the U.S. This year, however, it might be a good idea for consumers to pick up their pumpkin sooner than later. Indiana, one of the nation’s top fresh market pumpkin producing states according to the USDA , reports below average yields this October, due to early summer drought conditions.

While Indiana’s reduced output doesn’t amount to a major pumpkin shortage, according to Stephen Meyers, assistant professor of weed science at Purdue University, consumers should expect fewer pumpkins available for this year’s fall harvest. Pumpkin growth relies on well-timed summer rainfall and this past summer set records in Indianapolis as the driest June on record. It also set records in Indiana as one of the hottest Junes in recorded history

“For many farms, the pumpkin season starts [in fall] as they are planted into a cover crop that is going into the ground right now. The cover crop will then be terminated in late spring or early summer, which is when the pumpkins are then planted to time with a fall harvest,” Meyers said in a news release. “For our farm, we planted and didn’t receive much, if any, rainfall for June, which doesn’t encourage much growth for the pumpkins starting out.”

Indiana is one of the nation’s largest pumpkin producers, cultivating around 6,000 acres each year. The majority of Indiana’s commercial pumpkin crop is sold to the fresh market. Large-scale operations often have irrigation systems in case of limited rainfall; however, there can also be a slight benefit to a dry summer, according to the release.

“A dry summer obviously isn’t good for seed germination, but the dryness means there is less disease pressure,” Meyers said in the release. “Pumpkins are susceptible to a number of plant pathogens, but when conditions are drier, that means fewer fungicides have to be sprayed.

Tip of the Iceberg podcast: What to do with those pumpkins?

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 19:28:09 GMT

Hey, the pumpkin craze is real, and it’s not over yet. Consumers either decorate their doorsteps or tables with them or they buy it in a can, in a spice jar, in a latte or within a dizzying variety of other products.

So, how do you make the case for buying (or repurposing) whole, fresh pumpkins for culinary uses? What do you do with your porch pumpkins when you’re swapping décor for the next holiday?

This episode of the Tip of the Iceberg podcast addresses these questions and more, featuring Holly Lucille, a practicing naturopathic doctor and senior medical advisor at Fullscript, which started as a dietary supplement dispensary and has since become a tool for integrative practitioners and patients. It’s a resource for those needing advice on following doctor’s dietary orders, gaining wellness insights and how-to tips.

Learn: Pumpkins, the commodity

Lucille has the knowledge of what fresh, whole pumpkins can do for the consumer as far as functional health and how to prepare what seems like an unwieldy vegetable. She also provides actionable takeaways for companies and supermarket produce buyers, managers and executives to increase sales.

“So, have a great decoration, clean ’em up and get that flesh out of there,” she says.

Related: Have you heard of our free professional development courses at ProduceEDU.com ? You take the course on your own time and get a certificate of completion. Hey, it couldn’t hurt when you ask for a raise or new role.

There’s a Produce Buying Fundamentals course about navigating surprises and stress on the produce desk.
And there’s a course on merchandising, which focuses on the sales strategy, food safety and artistry behind in-store produce displays.

Also: PMG’s next merchandising display contest deadline is coming up Dec. 8, for the Fall 2022 Produce Artist Award Series. Send us six to 10 large photos of your apples, hard squash, pears, pumpkins and sweet potatoes at artists@producemarketguide.com . Include your name, company, location and job title.

And don’t forget, listen to the whole pumpkiny interview on our Tip of the Iceberg podcast.

Pumpkin crop shaping up nicely for fall sales

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:07:03 GMT

At one point this spring, New York grower Jason Turek wasn’t sure if he’d have enough labor to plant any pumpkins . With that resolved, he worried that with so many people out of work, nobody would buy them. Then government stimulus money kicked in, and he began to relax.

“It seems like people are not going on vacation, they’re staying home and spending more on landscaping and cooking,” said Turek, partner in King Ferry, N.Y.-based Turek Farms , which sells hundreds of loads of traditional orange jack-o-lanterns, 35 count and 50 to 60 count, to retailers in the Northeast.

“If we follow the trends in the nursery business, which was up dramatically, all indications are it’s going to be a decent fall,” he said.

“We’ve tried to stick to our normal plan based on what sold last year and stay in our comfort zone, not knowing how the year’s going to play out.”

After an extremely hot, dry July, Turek was waiting for his fruit to size up.

“We should be on time,” he said, “with the majority of pumpkins coming off the last 10 days in September and the first 20 days of October.”

He also likes to keep some pumpkins around for Thanksgiving celebrations.

At Jackson Farming Co. , based in Autryville, N.C., the crop “is coming along fine,” said vice president operations Matt Solana, who expects his first harvest of carving pumpkins in mid-September.

“We’ll get a few loads out to retailers who set up their produce departments up right after Labor Day,” Solana said.

His peak shipping period is Oct. 1-15, with retail promotions running until Oct. 30.

As for COVID-19, “We’re all good here on the farm,” he said, “taking the suggested precautions and working with our teams to stay safe.”

Washington is on track for a bountiful crop of pumpkins and ornamental gourds, said Michele Youngquist, president of Mount Vernon-based Bay Baby Produce , which grows over 550 acres of pumpkins in the Skagit Valley, including 15 pumpkin varieties from pie to ornamental and three varieties of long-stemmed, hard-shelled pumpkins for decoration.

“Early spring and summer were on the cooler side,” said Youngquist, who’s built an empire with her mini Pumpkin Patch Pals, “but we got good heat in July so everything is on schedule.”

Bay Baby expects to start harvesting Aug. 10 and continue until Oct. 15, with product shipping from the first of September until Oct. 25, or until supply runs out, she said. Her designs are shipped across North America and down to Mexico, with some going to Japan and Taiwan.

“It’s definitely a growing category,” she said. “We offer a great low-cost, feel-good item that’s especially welcome this year.”

At pumpkin giant Frey Farms , based in Keenes, Ill., vice president John Frey said his crop looks good so far.

While there wasn’t enough rain during planting, Frey said by the end of July he was wishing the intermittent rain would stop.

“By the last week of August and first week of September we start picking, stocking up and getting our inventory built up,” he said, “because right after Labor Day stores want to set their fall displays.”

Sales of Frey’s ornamentals, from mesh bags of white, orange and striped mini pumpkins to gourds and decorative corn, start ramping up the second and third week of September, he said.

“You’ll see some ‘jack’ sales in September,” he said, “but the majority of jack-type pumpkins have the highest demand in October.”

While Turek Farms has decided to concentrate on the classic orange pumpkin, Frey is known for its heirlooms, from the ribbed, blue-gray jarrahdale, a customer favorite, to warty and fairytale varieties.

Mike Mauti, managing partner of Execulytics Consulting in Milton, Ontario, said these new varieties, which command a premium price, have gained ground every year for the past decade, making the ornamental category more profitable for retailers.

Turek said the year’s success also depends on dodging hurricanes, and the weather needs to cool down to start people thinking about fall.

“Until we get them picked it’s hard to tell how the season will go,” he said, “but every kid who wants to carve a pumpkin will have one.”

Related Content:

Bay Baby launches Squidmo gourds

Pumpkins

Bay Baby launches Squidmo gourds

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:42:37 GMT

Michele Youngquist, president of Bay Baby Produce , Mount Vernon, Wash., is introducing a new gourd this year, the Squidmo.

“It’s a larger gourd in different colors whose ‘tentacles’ make it look like it’s from the sea,” said Youngquist.

“We’re just starting out, so availability will be limited.”

Bay Baby is also introducing new Silhouette pumpkins, with sayings like Happy Harvest and Happy Fall. The company’s bright white Snow Baby and Bianco pumpkins have also become popular for decorating, she said.

“When you put the white and orange together they just pop.”

“I’m always checking out what’s trending on Pinterest to keep relevant to what’s cool and decorative,” Youngquist said, “and sourcing different textures and unique items to suit different decorating styles.”

Sarah Frey’s ‘The Growing Season’ available for sale

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:44:45 GMT

Although pumpkin harvest has started, it’s still “The Growing Season” at Frey Farms , Keenes, Ill.

“The Growing Season,” Sarah Frey’s account of growing up on a small farm and turning it into a supplier of fresh produce to national grocery chains, became available for purchase Aug. 25. Outlets include Walmart, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

“Everyone faces adversity at some point in their lives, but it’s important to remember that nothing holds us back forever,” Frey said in a news release. “We all have the courage within ourselves to overcome fear and challenges. In writing ‘The Growing Season,’ I wanted to remind others that even during life’s most difficult times it’s still possible to discover the good.”

Frey Farms also grows watermelons and other fruits and vegetables, available throughout the country under the Sarah’s Homegrown brand. The company diverts “ugly” fruit from the fresh market to juices, including Tsamma watermelon juice and Sarah’s Homegrown Agua Frescas, lemonades and teas.

Related stories:

PMA Town Hall focuses on gender equality

Frey Farms rebrands as Sarah’s Homegrown

United Fresh Women in Produce honoree Sarah Frey: ‘I just went for it’

Van Groningen & Sons sees bumper pumpkin crops

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:10 GMT

The pumpkin season for Van Groningen & Sons , Manteca, Calif., is shaping up to be a record breaker, with a bumper crop of medium carving, heirlooms and pie-sized pumpkins .

The weather has been so favorable that harvest will begin early, according to Tommy Van Groningen, plant health manager.

“Most of the reason for the bumper crop is the temperature,” he said in a news release. “The heat did not cause many blossoms or young pumpkins to burn off. The bees were also working most of the day since it never got too hot.”

Cool nights allowed the plants to respire, so they were spending energy on survival, he said.

“They were able to spend more of the inputs on producing a crop,” Van Groningen said in the release.

According to the pumpkin grower, the COVID-19 pandemic will actually promote pumpkin sales. With more children learning at home and their parents working at home, families will turn to home-based activities to give a sense of normalcy, according to the release.

The company’s buying and variety guide is available online .

Related story:

Pumpkin season heats up in California

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:19:39 GMT

Iconic fall crops such as pumpkins are doing well just before harvest, even though temperatures are still hovering in the 90s in several U.S. regions.

“The fields are looking great, and the warm weather has provided the perfect growing condition for us to have an early supply available to meet retailer’s post-Labor Day demand,” said Danielle Ratto, saleswoman for Manteca, Calif.-based Van Groningen and Sons Inc. , in a news release.

The lineup of varieties to be available from Van Groningen and Sons include Warty Goblins as well as “Pinterest porch-worthy classics” called Jarradales and Fairytales, according to the release.

Ratto said in the release that “yields should be favorable and supplies ample through Halloween.”

“There has been talk of shortages in the East (U.S.) due to the heavy rains from the hurricane, which usually drives up demand here in the West,” she said in the release.

Related news:

Arkansas sweet potato season shaping up well

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:55 GMT

There should be no gap between old crop and new crop sweet potato shipments in Arkansas, one leading marketer reports.

New crop harvest typically begins in July or August and usually continues into November. Sweet potatoes can be marketed from storage year-round.

The 2019 sweet potato crop has moved out in good fashion and the outlook for the 2020 crop is strong, said Autumn Campbell, sales manager for Matthews Ridgeview Farms, Wynne, Ark.

“Our storage crop looks great and our plants look beautiful; we do not foresee any issues with shortages or a gap,” she said May 12.

Campbell said the company has been “blessed” through the pandemic and has kept its team safe and healthy with appropriate precautions.

“We are proud to be a part of an industry that is so essential to our country and the entire world,” she said.

For the 2020 crop, planting season has been going great and plants look beautiful, Campbell said.

“It’s warming up here in Arkansas and we are looking at a nice crop for this year,” she said. “We are growing every year and excited about it.”

Big footprint

The USDA does not report annual acreage numbers for Arkansas sweet potatoes.

The Census of Agriculture reported sweet potatoes accounted for 4,598 acres in 2017, or about 42% of total vegetable acreages. 2017 acreage was way up compared with 2012, when 2,410 acres of sweet potatoes were harvested.

The report said 75 operations grew sweet potatoes in 2017, up from just 17 in 2012.

The biggest sweet potato region is in Cross County in northeastern Arkansas, and Rick Wimberley, extension agent for the county, said growers there have been receiving big rains this spring.

While that may delay some planting, rains haven’t hurt the crop potential, he said. Wimberley said acreage in the county could be close to about 3,000 acres.

Sweet potatoes represent the biggest part of Arkansas vegetable acreage.

The Census of Agriculture reported Arkansas growers harvested 11,062 acres of vegetables that year in 2017, nearly the same as 11,111 acres in 2012.

The Census of Agriculture reported 748 operations in Arkansas harvested vegetable acreage in 2017, compared with 625 operations in 2012. The state does not report annual vegetable acreage reports; 2017 is the most recent year available.

Watermelons also are a big crop in Arkansas, according to USDA statistics, with 1,822 acres harvested in 2017, compared with 1,880 in 2012.

The Census of Agriculture reported tomatoes also ranked high, with 952 acres grown on 398 operations in 2017. That is down slightly compared with 2012, when 373 operations grew just over 1,100 ares of tomatoes in the state.

2017 Arkansas vegetable and melon statistics:

Fresh market vegetables: 9,500 acres;

Sweet potatoes: 4,598 acres, 3,492 fresh market acres;
Watermelon: 1,822 acres;
Tomatoes: 952 acres;
Turnip greens: 734 acres;
Summer squash: 578 acres;
Snap beans: 403 acres, 107 fresh market acres;
Pumpkins: 363 acres;
Sweet corn: 341 acres;
Southern peas (cowpeas): 284 acres;
Bell peppers: 128 acres;
Lettuce: 100 acres;
Cucumbers: 118 acres;
Okra: 82 acres;
Mustard greens: 68 acres;
Cabbage: 64 acres;
Cantaloupes: 56 acres; and
Potatoes: 62 acres.

Realted content:
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Arkansas sweet potato acreage rises, but tomato acres fall
Arkansas Produce

Frey Farms rebrands as Sarah’s Homegrown

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:26 GMT

Keenes, Il-based Frey Farms is rebranding its entire line from Frey Farms to Sarah’s Homegrown by Frey Farms.

The new brand will appear on everything from bins of jack o’lanterns to mesh bags of striped mini pumpkins and PLU stickers on individual pumpkins and gourds, said Hilary Long, vice president of sales and marketing.

“The new look speaks to a woman-owned business,” said Long.

The accompanying QR code tells the story of her aunt Sarah Frey, who starting her business at the age of 16 and now grows fruit and vegetables in seven states and distributes fresh beverages nationally.

Long said Frey did a small test of the Homegrown brand last year at Walmart. The move paves the way for new digital marketing campaigns and work with influencers.

“For the first time we’ll spend more on marketing online this fall,” said Long. “Not just because of COVID; it’s something we’ve wanted to do once we got the branding right and consistent across our portfolio, including our beverages.”

Frey Farms will also be promoting Sarah Frey’s new book, “The Growing Season: How I built a New Life and Saved and American Farm,” to be published Aug. 25 by Ballantine.

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Marketers expect strong demand for pumpkins despite COVID-19

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:28 GMT

The fact that COVID-19 may well lead to the cancellation of favorite fall activities, including Halloween, doesn’t bother the vice president of sales and marketing for Keenes, Ill.-based Frey Farms in the least.

“I think we’re going to have a huge year, and I think we’ll see more of our customers selling beyond their projections,” said Hilary Long, whose customers include Walmart, Publix, Trader Joe’s and Amazon Fresh.

“Quite a few of the larger players and some of the smaller ones expect the same kind of growth as well,” she said.

Long bases her optimism on her meetings with retailers and the fact that fall is traditionally an exciting season for consumers.

“People are probably not going to be visiting a pumpkin patch this year,” she said, “but I think they will want to have that same experience at home. They’ll want to do more decorating and more cooking at home, and they will probably buy more pumpkins.”

Michele Youngquist, who’s built her Mount Vernon, Wash.-based Bay Baby Produce on spreading pumpkin joy, has discovered that her value-added pumpkin items are ideal for families forced to spend more time at home this fall.

Some retailers have already picked up her painting kits, consisting of four mini pumpkins, four paint pots and a brush, the perfect art project for home-schooled kids. Amateur bakers, meanwhile, enjoy her pie baking kit with its two organic pie pumpkins, organic spice blend, recipe and link to a baking demo.

All these products will be sold in the company’s new bags.

“The clear film allows customers to see the pumpkins better and creates a beautiful display,” she said.

Retailers can also pack Bay Baby kits, painted pumpkins and ornamental gourds in a customizable box for delivery, “so the consumer doesn’t have to run all over the store to pick everything up.”

Long said social media has changed the way people look at the ornamental category, and she’s excited about the possibilities for growth and promotion through digital marketing.

“I think the way we buy fall items has changed because of the digital landscape, especially Instagram,” she said.

“It’s very visual, everyone’s looking for something more unique to cook with and new ways to decorate a pumpkin — instead of carving it you can spray-paint it gold with white polka dots. That’s why we’re seeing those programs grow, there’s a lot more access to the beauty of what you can do with all your fall items.”

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Inspectors find pests in imported pumpkin shipment

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:42 GMT

Pumpkins can be carved into scary jack-o-lanterns this time of the year, but there’s something scarier when it comes to imported pumpkins: invasive species.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialists recently intercepted flower longhorn beetles in a shipment of pumpkins from Costa Rica.

During an inspection October 4, CBP agriculture specialists discovered seven larvae boring through wood packaging material protecting the pumpkins and submitted the specimens to the U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist. The entomologist identified the larvae as belonging in the subfamily Lepturinae, or flower longhorn beetles.

The adult beetles are considered pollinators, but while in their larvae stage they bore beneath a tree’s bark, potentially damage healthy trees.

The importer chose to re-export the pumpkins and wood packaging material instead of destroying the shipment.
On an average day in 2018, CBP agriculture specialists seized 4,552 prohibited plant, meat, animal byproducts and soil, and intercepted 319 insect pests at ports of entry.

Related story:

Bill seeks more agricultural inspectors at ports of entry

U.S. Pumpkin Growers Scared They'll Buck Big Production Trend

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:02:27 GMT

The trend is clear – U.S. consumers want pumpkins in their lattes, beers, pies and on their front porches. During the past 15 years, pumpkin production from all categories (fresh, processed, etc.) rose 31%. Pumpkin production was at 1.46 billion pounds in 2000 and rocketed to 1.91 billion pounds last year.

The USDA Economic Research Service attributes the rise to several factors, including popularity of urban pumpkin patches, fall festivals, new ornamental uses and seasonal cuisine. Per-capita use statistics show the average U.S. citizen uses 5.39 pounds of pumpkins each year for food and ornamental purposes.

This year could buck that trend, however, by no fault of consumer demand. Libby’s, the largest U.S. pumpkin producer, told Bloomberg earlier in October that yields in Illinois, the nation’s largest pumpkin-producing state, will be down big due to heavy summer rains. All told, they will only can around half of what the company initially forecasted, according to spokeswoman Roz O’Hearn.

“We think we’ll have enough pumpkins to get consumers through the important Thanksgiving holiday,” O’Hearn told Bloomberg . “[But after that, there’s going to be a shortage] until you get to the next harvest.”

Consumers will be waiting. According to Forbes , pumpkin beverages have soared 130% since 2006, and using pumpkins in restaurant dishes has increased tenfold over the past decade.

PSL season is here. Bring on the pumpkins!

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:13 GMT

It’s officially pumpkin spice latte season — Dunkin’ Donuts starts serving the iconic fall drink Aug. 27, and Starbucks starts the next day — which means thoughts will be turning to pumpkins and other harbingers of autumn soon.

Ryan Van Groningen, president of Van Groningen & Sons Inc., Manteca, Calif., said just like with Christmas items, retailers are featuring Halloween and fall items sooner.

“Every year is different, you never known when the start of pumpkin season will begin,” Van Groningen said in a news release. “A lot of it has to do with the weather. If it feels like fall outside, it is time to start promoting pumpkins and all the fall harvest décor along with it.”

Traditionally, retailers would wait until after Labor Day (Sept. 3 this year), but that’s not the case anymore, Van Groningen said.

Part of that’s fueled by the desire to be the first to market.

“If your stores are the first to showcase pumpkins, customers remember to back there when they are ready to purchase,” Van Groningen said in the release.

The crop is looking good this year, he said, including smaller decorative gourds and mini pumpkins, according to the release. Last year’s extreme heat in California decimated part of the crop, but growers this year are optimistic that temperatures will stay in check, according to the release.

Plenty of pumpkins still available

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:11:30 GMT

With just two shipping weekends before Halloween, there is an abundant amount of pumpkins to be sold.

“We have experienced very moderate temperatures (high 70’s to low 80’s) this fall which has allowed for normal production of pumpkins in California,” Ryan Van Groningen, president of Van Groningen & Sons Inc. , said in a news release. “With the exception of Oct. 3 when we received 2 to 3 inches of rain in a 45-minute span, our fall has been dry which is quite normal for us.”

Ample supplies of the “carving type orange jack o’lanterns” will be available through Halloween, according to the company, Manteca, Calif.

“As a grower, estimating how many pumpkins are left to be harvested in the field is an extremely important role to make sure you cover all of your customer’s needs while not leaving pumpkins in the field that will go unsold after Halloween,” Van Groningen said in the release.

The company has received many requests for donated pumpkins, he said, and with the abundant crop, it’s been able to donate to schools, churches and non-profit organizations and still meet retail orders.

Van Groningen & Sons Inc. will be exhibiting at booth No. 3884 at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Oct. 19-20 in Orlando, Fla.

There's a 75% Chance Your Pumpkin Pie Started Here

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:00:45 GMT

Picture an Illinois farm. Most people imagine a corn or soybean field. But Mark Schleusener, a NASS statistician, has another crop on his mind.

“Most people think of corn and soybeans when they imagine Illinois agriculture,” he says. “That’s not surprising, considering that The Prairie State ranked second in the nation when it comes to harvested acres for both of these crops in 2012. However, Illinois agriculture achievements expand way beyond just corn and soybeans. With more than 12,500 acres, Illinois growers account for more than three-fourths of all pumpkins harvested for processing in the United States.”

So chances are, the next pumpkin pie you eat will have originated in Illinois.

But to see the biggest pumpkins on display, you’ll have to head west to Half Moon Bay, Calif. That’s the home of the 41st annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. This year’s contest saw a new North American record when Napa, Calif., grower John Hawkley hauled in a 2,058-lb leviathan.

“I still can’t believe it,” he says. “Competition growers all ofver the world understand the stature and historical significance of Half Moon Bay, and to win here is incredible.”

Hawley received a $12,348 prize ($6 per pound) for his efforts, plus a $1,000 bonus.

Has America Hit Peak Pumpkin?

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:12:21 GMT

In the freezer, bags of pumpkin spice coffee—apparently, there was a deal. Above, pumpkin spice creamer, pumpkin spice bagels, and pumpkin spice cream cheese to go on it.
All while smelling those little pumpkin spice wax cubey things that are melting all over the house.

When AgDay host Clinton Griffiths was a kid, his mom never bought pumpkin spice anything except pumpkin spice which she used in the pumpkin pie!

This obsession with pumpkin spice has gone from the coffee lines of Starbucks where every Tri-Delt in town stood in their Ugg boots cuddled in a scarf waiting for fall to kick off a season-long obsession of Venti PSL’s to build your own pumpkin spice hotdogs. Yes, that’s right—pumpkin spiced grilling meat. Frankly, I’m worried. Did you know there are now even pumpkin spice cough drops?

They say this obsession is now worth roughly $500,000. The use of the spice in food is up tenfold since 2004.

What is pumpkin spice anyway? The spice is made of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. It does not include pumpkin! It’s the spice that goes in the pie, not the pumpkin itself. Although this little seasonal guilty pleasure is helping move fresh pumpkin as well. According to Nielson fresh pumpkin sales hit $121 million last year up 5 percent year-over-year. Nielson says it looks like growth in this category is slowing down and they’re even asking whether 2017 will be the year we see peak pumpkin.

That remains to be seen—but if Clinton’s house is any indication—this little addiction has room to run.

As they say in my home country—Happy Fall Ya’ll.

Has America Hit Peak Pumpkin?

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 04:54:04 GMT

Strong demand expected for pumpkins this fall

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:53 GMT

Grower-shippers anticipate a festive fall with gatherings galore – in other words, perfect conditions for pumpkins .

“Last year, demand was driven by people living their lives at home and so we saw increased demand as a result of people decorating their homes more and celebrating with their families,” said Jeanna Hoff, saleswoman for Manteca, Calif.-based Van Groningen & Sons .

“While that isn’t as much the case this year, we don’t anticipate demand falling off. Our expectation for this year is based on the trends we have seen for other holidays and events. Since people were unable to celebrate Halloween traditionally last year, there is likely pent-up demand to celebrate this year. Our expectation is that we will see robust demand as a result.”

Michele Youngquist, owner of Mount Vernon, Wash.-based Bay Baby Produce , also noted strong demand as a result of more social gatherings. The different colors and textures available make pumpkins ideal for decorating not only for holidays but throughout the fall, Youngquist said.

She noted that it has been hotter and drier than usual in their area but that so far the crop looks good. Hoff also reported that weather has been mostly cooperative.

Both women noted that plenty of other variables have the potential to cause headaches this season, however.

“We expect that the most troublesome variable this year will be found within the supply chain,” Hoff said.

“Obtaining materials (cardboard and pallets), finding labor, and also diminished capacity in trucks and drivers has proven to cause issues in packing and shipping product. The pumpkin season is a short and intense season. This consolidated supply and drastic increase in production will likely be difficult for an already stressed supply chain to handle. We are working ahead to try to mitigate these challenges as much as possible.”

Both companies have new items coming available for the new season. Bay Baby Produce has a new line of small painted pumpkins called Little Ghouls, and additions for Van Groningen & Sons include the mini fairytale, the Kouyou and a Fall Pastel bin collection.

Goodbye summer, hello fall in the produce aisle

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:35 GMT

“Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer ...”

That classic Bobby Vinton song line reminds me of summer love interests that never carried over once school started, that were never much to begin with, and those that only existed in my mind.

It also reflects a pivotal point in the produce aisle: the switch from summer to fall merchandising.

On one hand the end of summer (which is actually not until late September) marks the end of long days of handling pallets of melons, stone fruit, local fare, and other labor-intensive summer merchandising. We get a breather.

On the other hand, the end of summer means that along with reduced tonnage comes a reduction in sales. Lower sales mean fewer labor hours. That hurts as you have just as much work to do setting up your produce department, just as much effort needed to close shop, keep things rotated and clean – and not near as many hours to maintain standards.

Say the fading summer sales, “Do you miss me yet?”

So, farewell to summer, hello to fall. Keep your chin up though. Fall is, of course, a welcome season too. Fall is all about the harvest bounty. Images of bubbling hot jonathan apple pies adorned with sugary laced lattice tops. It’s knee-deep fall leaves amid jack-o-lantern pumpkins, ornamental gourds, sweet fall grapes, hard squash for baking and crunchy apples for school snacks and candy apples.

All that’s missing from that scene is the little moths fluttering in the lights at the Friday night football game.

It’s time to remerchandise the produce department for fall. A good merchandising plan can be executed in one concerted overnight effort to completely transform your stand from summer to a fall look.

Fall is a fun change. Stores dig out stored bushel baskets to call attention to produce displays and line these up in all sorts of configurations with added props of checkerboard fabric and burlap, for just a couple of examples. Or, add fall décor to accent displays using straw bales, corn stalks and more to project the harvest look.

You get the drift.

Fall in the produce aisle should include all the apples that your warehouse or distribution center offers; keep inventories close and rotate daily. Late fall citrus is just around the corner too, so plan adequate space allocation for navel oranges and grapefruit. Keep the wet rack in top shape too. Just as people are hungry for menu changes, they’ll respond in kind if you have a full line of fall pears displayed. The rich fall fresh produce colors and aroma are enough to tantalize shoppers.

Comfort foods spark sales too. Expand facings and call attention to your root vegetable categories, such as with new crop potatoes and onions, carrots, celery and all the soup fixins, which help boost sales as the days get cooler. Not to mention the winter holidays are on the horizon as well.

As for my fractured, goodbye-to-produce summer lyrics … So let us make a pledge to regroup in May. And if we don’t, we’ll be, uh, remiss.

Armand Lobato works for the Idaho Potato Commission. His 40 years’ experience in the produce business span a range of foodservice and retail positions.

For more Produce Aisle wisdom, click here .

Fresh Farms pumpkin sales off to a strong start

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:07:28 GMT

The pumpkin crop was off to a rough start due to heavy rains in all the growing regions, said Marco Serrano, sales rep for Fresh Farms, in a news release. This caused the crop to start about 10 days later than their estimated start date, but the quality is surprisingly is outstanding, Serrano continued.

“We expected some issues due to the rains, but thankfully this wasn’t the case. Volumes are steady and should remain this way with no interruptions through October,” Serrano said. “The market started off strong due to the late start as well as demand from the west due to a heat wave that slowed their crop down. Good weather throughout all growing regions, however, brought on good, steady yields. Fresh Farms expects good promotional volumes, weather permitting.”

Fresh Farms is currently growing in the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora, according to the news release. Fresh Farms is in its third season and has been growing every year. It expects to grow this program yearly as the feedback from customers has been very positive.

“Pumpkins literally sell by themselves,” Serrano said. “Our marketing team came up with a carving competition through our social media in which anyone can send pictures of Fresh Farms carved pumpkins to compete for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place price money,” Serrano continued. “Retailers will improve sales by making the customers’ pumpkin purchase experience fun. Carving competitions, carving stencils, in-store carving and the ideas to promote pumpkins are endless.”

Produce industry is ‘thriving’ in St. Louis

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:08:22 GMT

Produce sales in the St. Louis, Mo., area are going strong, and distributors say they anticipate a solid fall-winter season. Businesses at the St. Louis Produce Market itself “are thriving,” said Sean Kelley, market manager. “I think things are going really well for everybody,” he said.

The market, which officially opened in 1953, is at full capacity with 14 owners doing business there. The facility is undergoing an extensive roofing project, which so far has replaced roofs on 80% of the pods on the market, Kelley said. Business has changed on the market, as many of the area’s smaller chains have been bought out by larger companies, said Joe Sanders, owner of Midstate Produce Co. Inc. But still, the company continues to thrive.

“We’re expanding our facility and getting ready to modernize a couple of our units,” Sanders said. “We’ll be upgrading it to modern standards to make it more green and efficient.” That project will start in the fall. Midstate Produce Co. carries an extensive line of fruits and vegetables for retail and foodservice customers that includes local apples and homegrown butternut squash. “We’re always going full throttle,” Sanders said.

Pumpkins will be the leading commodity through October for Midwest Best Produce Inc. in St. Louis, said Dan Pupillo, president Pumpkin sales took off in early September, and supplies were good all month. That likely will change in October, however. “Once we get into the middle of October, it’s really going to fall off due to all the rain we had earlier in the summer,” Pupillo said.

But he did not expect a pumpkin shortage. “The retailers front load their warehouses,” he said, and should have enough of the gourds to meet demand.

Watermelon is another big seller at Midwest Best Produce. Packaging changes from bins to cartons during the fall and winter, and sourcing switches to Mexico and offshore growing areas. Other winter staples include broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, onions and mixed vegetables.

Tomatoes and packaged corn are a big deal at Front Row Produce LLC, Overland, Mo., said Tony Pupillo Sr., owner and president. “We do a lot of packaged corn,” Pupillo said, including four- and five-count packs. Front Row Produce has a machine that automatically shucks corn, he said. “It’s a pretty big operation.”

The company has been moving more corn every year and now has sales representatives in Tulsa, Okla.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Nogales, Ariz., in addition to Overland, Mo. The fall product line includes peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, jalapeno peppers and citrus. The firm puts up three-packs of peppers and overwraps zucchini for retail chains. Owner Vince Pupillo describes VMP Produce Co. on the market as a “little house that has found our niche.” The company specializes in grape, hothouse and round tomatoes as well as peppers, cucumbers and squash.

Coping with inflation

Like produce suppliers everywhere, St. Louis distributors are doing their best to cope with skyrocketing inflation. “We’re paying more, and we’ve got to pass it on,” said Dan Pupillo of Midwest Best Produce.

“We can definitely feel it,” added Tony Pupillo of Front Row Produce. The company is working on tight margins and has to deal with higher prices for things like gasoline, boxes and labor, he said. “It’s harder to make money,” he said. “You can’t pass it all on.”

Joe Sanders of Midstate Produce Co. said supply chain issues from COVID-19 and ensuing higher prices have been a bigger detriment to the produce industry than overall inflation. “We do all right,” he said, “but end users -- consumers – definitely feel it, just like we’re feeling it.”

There was some good news, though. “Freight costs are easing, which ought to help,” he said.

St. Louis-based SilverCity Express LLC hauls produce for a number of local produce firms, said owner Muriz Hasanovic. Business is strong for the company. “I cannot complain,” Hasanovic said. But he added that it’s been difficult to find drivers, and he’s received complaints about higher prices from some of his customers. “Everything is up,” he said, including fuel, labor and insurance costs, and he said he doesn’t see any major changes anytime soon.

Kelley said costs of doing business on the market have risen, but not as much as they have at facilities on the East and West coasts. “It’s not cheap,” he said. “But it’s not astronomical.”

Plenty of pumpkins still available

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:12:08 GMT

Fresh-Link hires Randy Bolhuis in Michigan

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:48:11 GMT

Fresh-Link Produce LLC has hired Randy Bolhuis to open an office in Hamilton, Mich., where he will be the sales agent for Sandy View Farms.

Bolhuis has more than 30 years of experience in the produce industry, according to a Fresh-Link news release. He represented Van Solkema Produce at its Byron Center, Mich., headquarters and in the Vidalia, Ga., area, for onions.

He’ll be responsible for new and existing Fresh-Link customers, and strengthening relationships between Michigan growers, packers and shippers, according to the release.

“I am thrilled to find such a strong talent to support our rapidly increasing Fresh-Link grower network,” Garry Rowe, president of Integrated Fresh Solutions, parent company of Fresh-Link Produce, said in the release.

Sandy View Farms grows an assortment of vegetables including cucumbers , squash , bell and chili peppers, pumpkins, cabbage and turnips on 1,100 acres, according to its website.

Fresh-Link Produce is an integrated produce company with operations across the U.S., focusing on exclusive grower representation and grower-shipper relationships to support sales to foodservice, retail and wholesale segments, according to the release. It is part of the New Jersey-based Integrated Fresh Solutions’ family of companies which includes Kool Logistics.