When Paramount Citrus Cooperative in Delano, CA, launched “Wonderful Halos” as a new brand last year, “we committed the largest marketing campaign to date in the citrus industry — a record $100 million in the brand’s first five years, with $20 million spent the first year,” Jasmine Hodari, vice president of marketing for Paramount Citrus, said in a written statement to The Produce News.

“In just our first year, we became the No. 1 selling Mandarin brand,” she said.

The makers of Wonderful Pistachios, POM Wonderful and Wonderful Halos are bringing its newest and sweetest sensation — Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Texas red grapefruits — to produce aisles nationwide.

The Western Growers Association held its 89th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas Nov. 2-5. 2014 Chairman of the Board Bruce Taylor of Taylor Farms California passed the gavel to incoming chairman Vic Smith of JV Smith Cos.

LAS VEGAS, NV — Vic Smith of JV Smith Cos. in Yuma, AZ, was elected chairman the board for the next year at the 89th Western Growers Annual Meeting, held here Nov. 2-5.

Other highlights of the event including Gary Pasquinelli of Pasquinelli Produce Co. being presented with the group's prestigious Award of Honor, and outgoing Chairman of the Board Bruce Taylor of Taylor Farms California Inc. in Salinas, CA, challenging grower-shippers to be more collaborative and stop beating each other up over a nickel.

Delhaize Group has signed an agreement with ALDI Inc. to sell its Bottom Dollar Food´s 66 store locations in the greater Philadelphia and greater Pittsburgh markets for approximately $15 million and includes the assumption of associated lease liabilities. The transaction is expected to result in an asset impairment and other charges for Delhaize Group of approximately $180 million.

Build it and they will come has long been known as a motivational statement to generate new ideas. But for Nature Fresh Farms, building a mobile micro greenhouse and taking it to the general public has proven to be a consumer education success.