Sarasota, FL-based Global Organic/Specialty Source Inc. hired JEFF PATTERSON as director of sales and business development.

Sunkist Growers is marking record sales in Canada this year of its specially themed 10-pound Navel cartons and strong results for four- and eight-pound giro bags, offered for the first time this season as part of Sunkist's national hockey program.

The promotion was successful in moving more than 1 million 10-pound cartons, a first in the program' history, and 800,000 giro bags, which are a new offering this season.

By 2014, half of the people in the United States will have a smartphone. That means access to the web, email, social media and custom apps from anywhere at anytime.

You've seen them in your store, reading their shopping list from their smartphone, suggesting dinner ideas to the person on the other end of a Bluetooth headset — all the while checking their Facebook newsfeed.

“Unseasonably cool weather has affected Florida’s spring crops this year,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News in early March. “We are moving specialty tomatoes in Homestead. Our line includes Heirloom, Medley, tear drop and yellow beefsteak tomatoes in varying quantities. The cool weather has slowed production on all of our tomato items.”

Helen L. Aquino, marketing manager for Village Farms, a leading greenhouse vegetable growing operation with U.S. headquarters in Eatontown, NJ, said that the company will be represented at the 2013 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention & Trade Show in Toronto April 17-19 at Booth 1300. In addition to Ms. Aquino, representatives from the company who will be at the show include Rob Jackson, regional director retail sales, Tony Cho, Vancouver regional sales manager, and Andrew Sable, British Columbia gatekeeper.

Origin Organic Farms is adding a welcome splash of color to The Oppenheimer Group's sweet Bell pepper menu, and greater volume to accommodate market demand.

Building on last year's trial season, the Delta, BC-based grower has expanded four-fold, and added yellow and orange peppers to the mix. Oppy will begin shipping the full range of "OriginO" branded organic peppers at the end of April.