Melissa’s World Variety Produce in Los Angeles, is currently strongly promoting its organic steamed beets, Robert Schueller, director of public relations for the company, told The Produce News, noting that the item was introduced in summer 2014.

“They are available year-round,” he added. “Our newest organic item, introduced in November 2014, is ‘Melissa’s organic Tri-Color Bell Peppers’ in packs and bulk. These too are available year-round.”

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Stemilt is featuring Red Delicious as its “Apple of the Month” for February. The company will have in-and-out promotion opportunities on a variety of bag sizes packed in either display-ready cartons or high-graphic half tri-wall bins with "World Famous Apples" messaging.

Red Sun Farms has expanded its Pharr, TX, distribution facility and has begun construction on its expanded acreage at its new, cutting-edge hydroponic greenhouse in Dublin, VA. The facility is producing both conventional and organic produce, having received its organic certification on Nov. 9 of last year.

If a company that relies on ASAP deliveries needed to make sure there was always guaranteed coverage from a transportation standpoint, what would be the best way to ensure that? Start a subsidiary company that specializes in trucking.

That’s exactly what Nickey Gregory, president of Atlanta’s Nickey Gregory Co., did in 2013 with the launch of Gregory Family Express, a full service fresh and frozen hauler that serves the Southeast and Northeast with daily deliveries.

In 2000, Nickey Gregory had what some people thought was a crazy idea. He left an important job with a large distributor on the Atlanta State Farmers Market to start the Nickey Gregory Co. on that same market.

But the Nickey Gregory Co. has grown by leaps and bounds, already expanding its headquarters on the market as far as possible. Business has boomed so much as the company celebrates its 15th year that expansion is again a hot topic around the office.

On Jan.14, Vision Import Group headquartered in Hackensack, NJ, announced the hiring of Steve Hitchings as the company’s new general manager in its Southeast, Lakeland, FL office. He began his new position on Jan. 5.

Hitchings has more than 34 years of procurement and sales experience in produce. Most recently, he was part of the procurement and sales team for Paradise Produce Distributing. Prior to that, he held a vice president position with Maines Paper & Food Service Inc, headquartered in Conklin, NY.