KENOSHA, WI — Among the challenges and opportunities of Heartland Produce Co. is providing retail customers in Wisconsin and northern Illinois with safe local produce.

Third-generation family member Ryan Dietz, director of business development, said his customers’ demand for local items is very strong. Heartland wants to assure its customers that their local foods are safe for consumers.

VINELAND, NJ — Krichmar Produce Co. is making some new upgrades to its facility, here, all designed to better maintain temperature control of the products it handles and ships to its customers — primarily retailers and wholesalers located up and down the East Coast, from Florida to Massachusetts.

The company “will be installing two speed doors to the entrance to the coolers to keep the cold chain more updated,” company President Jay Krichmar told The Produce News Tuesday afternoon, May 12.

The annual meeting of Northwest pear growers was conducted last week in Portland, with anticipated projections on the 2015 fresh pear harvest set at nearly 20.4 million standard box equivalents, which equates to approximately 451,000 tons of fresh pears. The projection is 2 percent higher than the five-year average, and 2 percent lower than last year’s crop.

The success of all good leaders depends on personal development and relationship building. With that philosophy in mind, the Southeast Produce Council’s Education Committee five years ago wanted to offer a greater understanding of the produce industry to those who have chosen to make this industry their calling. To that end, the Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals was formed under the auspices of a group headed by Rick Estess, one of the past presidents of the council.

As part of its ongoing commitment to help its customers include more fresh and healthy meals into their busy schedules, Ahold USA and its retail divisions announced the launch of Savory Fast, Fresh and Easy, a brand new digital content platform and magazine.

A trusted dear friend, loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and a dedicated passionate employee are 15 words that hardly scratch the surface to describe John McAleavey. Each word resonates with John and helps describe his character and his demeanor, but to know John was perhaps the ultimate pleasure and honor of all.