As is true for other producers in the Florida strawberry deal, Gary Wishnatzki, chief executive officer for Wish Farms, said the season was disappointing. “The strawberry season was not too good for many growers,” he told The Produce News. “Everyone was crying the blues.”

Wish Farms is located in the heart of strawberry country in Plant City, FL. In addition to strawberries, the company grows and markets seasonal mixed vegetables as well as blueberries.

Since 1989, Southern Corporate Packers, headquartered in Immokalee, FL, has worked to bolster its reputation in the fresh produce arena. Originally operating as a broker, President Brian Arrigo said the company is solidly entrenched in its current activity as a grower/packer/shipper of mixed vegetables and melons.

The company moves melons grown in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua, giving Southern Corporate Packers a year-round reach with distribution. In Florida, Southern Corporate Packers grows melons on 1,400 acres in South and Central Florida locations.

Jackson Farming Co., one of the premiere grower/packer/shippers of quality fruits and vegetables in North Carolina, is gearing up for a successful watermelon harvest. The company’s manifest includes both seeded and seedless watermelons, honeydews and Sprites. “We have added Caribbean Gold cantaloupes to the mix with Athena cantaloupes,” Vice President of Operations/Supply Chain Matt Solana told The Produce News.

Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, recently gave what was billed as "an inside look at today's fresh fruit and vegetable industry" at a meeting of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. The meeting was held Thursday afternoon, April 3, in Philadelphia.

Key Food Stores Co-operative Inc., a chain of independently owned and operated grocery stores, announced John Durante as the newest member of its executive team.

Naturipe Farms announced the appointment of Jerry Moran as its director of business development-West and the promotion of Kasey Kelley as the director of business development-East. In their roles, Moran and Kelley will contribute to the company’s growth by leading strategic sales and business development activities for Naturipe Farms.