Del Rey Avocado announced that Justin Warren has recently been appointed Del Rey Avocado’s new chief financial officer. To help ensure a smooth transition, Warren has been working closely with Bob Siemer, partner, and chief financial officer for the past year as director of finance. A seasoned member of Del Rey Avocado's finance team, Warren will also play a key management role and will be reporting to the company’s board of directors.

The AmericanHort Board of Directors is pleased to announce the application period for the 2022 board of director nominations is now open. Applications will be accepted until February 18, 2022 from AmericanHort members interested in being nominated for the AmericanHort board of directors’ election.

Rouses Markets and Sunkist Growers have earned the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest display of citrus fruits. Shipped directly from California’s citrus groves, the display features over 40,000 pounds of fresh Sunkist Navel, Blood and Cara Cara oranges, as well as Sunkist California mandarins, lemons, grapefruit, and Minneola tangelos. 

Over the years, Vick Family Farms, operating in Wilson, NC, has seen the spring sweet potato movement increase substantially.

“Twenty-plus years ago, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the big movement holidays, but I think creative marketing and the demand for healthier foods has certainly helped grow spring sweet potato sales,” said Charlotte Vick, partner/sales and marketing manager at Vick Family Farms.

For a myriad of reasons food prices are higher than in recent memory, and will likely remain so for quite a while.

Avocados, for example, are expensive right now. With prices ranging from $54 to $62 as Mark Campbell of ProduceIQ said, “the bigger Hass sizes are nearly worth their weight in gold.” He added that prices are about 40 percent higher than the previous high. Expect prices to go even higher as the Super Bowl approaches.

Research conducted by FoodMix Marketing Communications, a leading food marketing agency, revealed the underdeveloped state of branding within the fresh produce industry. To help businesses understand and utilize their findings, FoodMix is hosting a webinar on branded produce and the current state of it.