Maglio & Co., based in Glendale, WI, announced the addition of Robert Wilkinson as regional sales manager.

Wilkinson has over 15 years of experience in the produce industry. In his new position at Maglio & Co., Wilkinson will help to build customer bases and provide training to strengthen the sales team.

VINELAND, NJ — Summer 2014 in southern New Jersey saw ideal growing conditions and fairly steady pricing, according to Tom Consalo, vice president of The Freshwave LLC, who is now hoping that the state’s fall produce deal will show this same kind of consistency.

Ideal growing conditions this summer resulted in one of the better seasons in memory for Ryan Flaim of Flaim Farms/R&R Flaim Next Generation Produce, and that has the company optimistic for a strong fall season.

“Across the board we had very high quality on our summer crops,” said Flaim. “The growing conditions this summer were outstanding. We had perfect temperatures and not too much rain, which kept volumes in check. As a result, we enjoyed very steady markets and good prices.”

The Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference returns to Savannah, GA, Jan. 8-11, 2015.  In 2014, the event hosted more than 3,000 produce industry members.

In an orchard update from Domex Superfresh Growers, Dave Gleason talks about the beginning of this year's apple harvest and the use of self-driven, multi-level platforms that aid workers in the pick process.

The platforms allow Domex to do away with ladders altogether, creating a much safer and more efficient working environment. The company is also seeing less bruising on the fruit.

In early August, Wade Whitfield, who had a distinguished career in the agricultural promotion industry, died peacefully after several years of failing health.

Mr. Whitfield was born Sept. 8, 1931, in Newellton, LA, but grew up in Hughson, CA, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. He graduated from Hughson High School, and joined the Navy in 1951, serving for four years during the Korean War. He was discharged in 1955 and came back to the San Joaquin Valley where he became a grower or cling peaches, which mostly are processed for canning.