On the heels of Thanksgiving, the unofficial sweetpotato eating holiday, the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission is reporting a smaller annual yield despite a slight increase in acreage after a challenging growing and harvest season. Estimates are that yields may be down 20-30 percent across the industry.

Founded in 1934 as a modest produce stand in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, Bushwick Potato Commission has grown into a major supplier of fresh potatoes and vegetables along the entire Eastern Seaboard.

Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, the company recently celebrated its 90-year legacy grounded in a commitment to quality, community support and sustainable practices.

Maurice Auerbach Inc., the leading distributor of garlic and specialty produce in the Northeast, procures its wide range of products from various corners of the globe. Based in Secaucus, NJ, the company, operating under its AuerPak brand, focuses on garlic, shallots and an array of other specialty offerings, which include tropical and Asian produce, along with organic garlic, asparagus, ginger and tofu.

The company’s key products will be featured at the upcoming New York Produce Show.

Ahhh… the most wonderful (and busiest) time of the year is here! Retailers everywhere are gearing up for the holiday frenzy, and the produce industry is no exception. In the mad dash before Thanksgiving, consumers snapped up a jaw-dropping 50 million pounds of sweet potatoes, according to the National Grocers Association.

With the possible exception of being on a golf course with other clients, Kurt Zuhlke said he is always ready, willing and able to talk to existing and potential customers about the state of the packaging business. The long-time president and CEO of Zuhlke & Associates noted that there is a lot to discuss these days.

The Organic Grower Summit is now offering Continuing Education Units through the Certified Crop Adviser program for the upcoming event, taking place Dec. 4-5 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa. Not only does OGS promise to deliver networking, innovation and product sourcing, attendees now benefit from organic industry professional development.