4EARTH FARMS, grower and packer of conventional, organic and specialty produce, announced that  industry veteran Dave Hewitt has been promoted to director of national sales.

Whether it’s sourcing international produce or acting as a liaison for retailers that work directly with exporters and growers, the success of Miami-based Team Produce International Inc. is a direct result of group effort and maintaining lasting relationships.

“Our philosophy is to develop long-term relationships, not look at the short-term sale or gain,” company President Mike Parr told The Produce News.

Florida Fresh Potato Growers, a grower cooperative comprised of potato growers in southern Florida, moves Florida-grown potatoes to retail, foodservice and wholesale distributors primarily on the southeastern and eastern seaboards, as well as in the Midwest and into Canada.

The association grows and markets new-crop red, gold, white, purple and fingerling potatoes.

The report from the field couldn't be better for Florida fresh produce.

Earlier this week Wegmans announced a recall of approximately 12,540 packages of frozen spinach, supplied by Twin City Foods Inc., due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Since then the recall has expanded to other retailers, including Meijer and Target.

In addition to the Wegmans product, Twin Cities issued a recall of Meijer Organics Chopped Spinach, Cadia Organic Cut Spinach and Wild Harvest Organic Cut Leaf Spinach.

“We are very excited to bring something special to our customers and to consumers who love the Honeycrisp apple,” Scott Marboe, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers marketing director, said in a March 26 press release, adding that OSRG will fill a five-week window with Honeycrisp New Zealand apples starting in early May.