Produce Watch - Produce Business

Red Sun Farms Expands Distribution Center in Calgary

Red Sun Farms has expanded its distribution center in Calgary, Alberta, strengthening its commitment to better serving customers throughout Western Canada and the West Coast. The new facility features 40,000 square feet of multi-temp rooms, storage and packaging capabilities. It... Read more

Morning Kiss Organic Introduces Five Varieties of Organic Squash and Organic Brussels Sprouts

Morning Kiss Organic, Chelsea, MA, is announcing the availability of five varieties of organic squash and organic Brussels sprouts. The squash offerings include butternut, acorn, spaghetti, buttercup and delicata. Working closely with East Coast suppliers, including local New England farms,... Read more

West Pak Avocado Unveils New Bag Program

West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, CA, is introducing a new series of bagged avocados that showcase three key growing regions: California, Mexico and Colombia. “To guarantee a supply of premium avocados for our customers throughout the year, we remain committed to... Read more

Award-Winning Heirloom Tomato Now Available in the US

NatureSweet, San Antonio, TX, is introducing its award-winning Adora Heirloom Tomato to select stores. This unique tomato redefines the taste, appearance, and texture of tomatoes. Adora is a tomato like no other and has earned the ultimate recognition, the Crystal... Read more

Sunkist Captures Joy of Citrus With New Holiday Promotion

Sunkist Growers Inc., Valencia, CA, is kicking off the 2024 holiday season with a new collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing together two classics — Sunkist navel oranges and the Christmas movie, The Polar Express. This year, Sunkist introduces a... Read more

Bolthouse Fresh Foods Earns Best Sustainable Packaging Honors

Bolthouse Fresh Foods, Bakersfield, CA, earned the Best Sustainable Packaging Award at the 2024 IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show. The compostable packaging will debut at Meijer with 1- and 2-pound Bolthouse Fresh baby carrots and broaden to organic products... Read more

Bako Sweet Founder Don Valpredo Mourned

Donald (Don) John Valpredo, a lifelong champion of agriculture, businessman, founder and impetus behind Bako Sweet’s entry into the sweet potato business, died Oct. 31, 2024, while on vacation overseas. Valpredo was 85. Valpredo was one of the original farmers... Read more

Westfalia Fruit’s Digital Storytelling Recognized With Two Lovie Awards

Westfalia Fruit has been awarded two Lovie Awards for its innovative Our Story webpage. The company received the Gold Lovie Award in the Websites & Mobile Sites for the Food & Beverage category, as well as the People’s Lovie Award,... Read more

State Garden

State Garden, Chelsea, MA, announced three new strategic hires who will bring new capabilities and expertise to the organization’s rapidly evolving portfolio of brands and offerings, including Olivia’s Organics, Northeast Fresh and more. Tom Thompson joins as chief revenue officer;... Read more

Offshoot Brands

Angie Rowland has been named chief commercial officer at Offshoot Brands, Philadelphia, PA. Rowland joins the leadership team with a distinguished career in the fresh food industry, spanning dairy, produce, and functional beverages, most recently serving as vice president of... Read more

Mission Produce

Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, CA, appointed Brooke Becker senior vice president of sales. In her new position, Becker will lead Mission Produce’s North America Sales team in meeting demand for avocados and mangos. Becker has been a significant contributor to... Read more

Misionero

Misionero, Gonzales, CA, has named Brandi Smith as corporate controller. With over two decades of experience in accounting, finance and business management, Smith brings a wealth of expertise in supporting complex agricultural organizations and driving financial insights that fuel business... Read more

Fresh Farms

Fresh Farms, Rio Rico, AZ, welcomed Josh Acuña to its sales team. Acuña is eager to build strong relationships with both existing and new retailers, with plans to refresh their knowledge of table grapes. Acuña also envisions enhancing the grape... Read more

Giumarra Companies, Capital City Fruit Team Up to Bring Lemonade Apples Via Online Delivery

Just in time for the 2024-25 domestic apple season, the Giumarra Companies, Los Angeles, CA, announces a joint initiative with Capital City Fruit, Norwalk, IA, to offer nationwide online delivery of its exclusive Lemonade apples. Consumers are able to purchase... Read more

Gem-Pack Berries Unveils New Website

Gem-Pack Berries, Watsonville, CA, launched a new website. The redesigned site, developed in collaboration with Dystrick, features a new design with improved navigation and enhanced functionality, making it easier for users to access information about Gem-Pack Berries’ products, services and... Read more

Minnesota Grocers Association Recognizes Winners

The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA), St. Paul, MN, named Kris Kowalski Christiansen of Kowalski’s Companies, Inc., its 2024 Outstanding Grocer.Michael Koehler, director of retail strategic regional accounts of Blue Bunny/Wells Enterprises, received the MGA’s 2024 Outstanding Vendor Award.Jamie Pfuhl, president... Read more

Avocados From Mexico Celebrates National Avocado Day

In partnership with The GIANT Company and Philabundance, Avocados From Mexico, Dallas, TX, donated 60,000 avocados for the fourth annual Top Guac Challenge, benefiting those experiencing food insecurity in the Philadelphia, PA, area.Out of eight contestants, the team consisting of... Read more

Ratto Bros.

Ratto Bros., Modesto, CA, named Geoffrey Ratto as the company’s new chief executive officer. A fourth-generation member of the Ratto family, Ratto brings 15 years of industry experience to his new role. He succeeds Robert Engel, who stepped down earlier... Read more

Natural Delights

Natural Delights, Yuma, AZ, promoted David Baxter to vice president of sales and marketing. Baxter has been an integral part of the Natural Delights team for the past six years.Baxter’s journey with Natural Delights began as a product manager. His... Read more

Ippolito International

Ippolito International, Salinas, CA, announced two additions to its organization, Joseph Mallobox and Bob Polovneff.Mallobox has joined Ippolito International after working in the human resources arena for over 20 years. Most recently, his experience includes employment regulations, recruitment, and staff... Read more

Edible Brands Launches Fresh Fruit Subscription Delivery Service

Edible Brands, Atlanta, GA, the parent company of Edible (formerly Edible Arrangements), announced the launch of its latest endeavor: freshfruit.com. The new e-commerce brand boasts a subscription business model, giving consumers premium whole fruits hand-delivered directly to their doorstep.Launching with... Read more

Duda Farm Fresh Foods Announces Foodservice Celery Dippers

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Oviedo, FL, announces its newest product, Dandy Celery Dippers, now available for foodservice.Last fall, Duda launched celery dippers to retail audiences and saw the opportunity to bring the 2-inch fresh-cut celery sticks to foodservice operators seeking... Read more

Inline Plastics Launches Safe-T-Fresh 7-inch Rounds

Inline Plastic, Shelton, CT, has new 20-ounce, three-compartment packaging, the TS7020C3. The lids prevent food items from mingling with the anti-migration design.The second addition is the 46-ounce option, TS7046. Designed with signature Safe-T-Fresh technology, each package features tamper evident and... Read more

Michigan Asparagus Wraps Up Successful Season

The Michigan Asparagus season concluded one week earlier than usual, with ample volume available for summer festivities. To drive sales, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB), Dewitt, MI, enacted marketing strategies, including retail promotions, influencer marketing and digital campaigns that... Read more

C.H. Robinson Launches Digital Dispatch

Global logistics company C.H. Robinson announced a major efficiency for carriers through the launch of Digital Dispatch, its enhanced load matching platform. Utilizing a new algorithm powered by data science and artificial intelligence (AI), Digital Dispatch analyzes a broad range... Read more

Dole Marks the 40th Year of Whip

First, there was Dole’s sponsorship of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland in 1976, which led to a similar arrangement at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World several years later. After serving just Dole Pineapple juice and fresh-cut... Read more

Del Monte Precious Honeyglow Pineapple Wins Innovation of the Year

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Coral Gables, FL, recently won “Overall Food Innovation of the Year” in the 2024 Mindful Awards, for the company’s new Del Monte Precious Honeyglow, an innovative personal-size fresh pineapple that weighs less than 2 pounds... Read more

Texas Onion Industry Highlights Season Wins

The Texas International Produce Association, Mission, TX, announces the TX1015 Sweet Onion season was successful. Innovative marketing activities, such as an online social influencer program, sweepstakes, restaurant week promotion, and KSAT TV partnership, drew a larger audience, empowering people to... Read more

National Mango Board Scores Sweet Partnership with University of Mississippi Athletics

The National Mango Board, Orlando, FL, is partnering with the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Athletics. Building on their initial collaboration, the National Mango Board will now sponsor all Ole Miss football and basketball home games for the 2024-2025 season.... Read more

Sun World Acquires Biogold

Sun World International LLC, Bakersfield, CA, has acquired Biogold Group, a South Africa-based global fruit variety rights manager, trading as Citrogold in South Africa. Biogold is recognized as the preeminent global supplier of citrus genetics.In addition to its mango breeding... Read more

Bako Sweet Emphasizes Summer Offerings at Retail

This summer, Bako Sweet, Bakersfield, CA, introduced its grilling merchandising bins, perfect for highlighting the versatility of sweet potatoes in grilling recipes. These bins are available through Labor Day, providing retailers with an eye-catching, seasonal display that encourages consumers to... Read more

American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute

Johnny Barnes, president of the American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute (ASPMI), Benson, NC, announced Jeff Smutny has joined ASPMI as executive director.Prior to joining the sweet potato industry, Smutny served as the global director of marketing and regulatory affairs for... Read more