The California Strawberry Commission and the University of California-Davis have settled lawsuits against each other and have plans to further the partnership between the commission and the university's strawberry-breeding program.

Field Fresh Foods Inc., a Los Angeles-based manufacturer and marketer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sold under the “Field Fresh Foods” brand, announced that it has purchased the assets of Superior Fresh Cuts LLC., a regional fresh-cut produce processor serving Southern-California foodservice distributors and industrial customers.

Superior Fresh Cuts’ operations will be consolidated into the Field Fresh Foods processing facility in Los Angeles.

CHARLOTTE, NC — About 75 industry professionals from various stops along the supply chain gathered here Feb. 4 for a one-day Tech Talks sponsored by the Produce Marketing Association to embrace change and banish fear of failure, and to learn about emerging technology, as the moderator put it, “that can change the face of the industry.”

Giant Food Stores — in partnership with its sister company Peapod, a leading internet grocer — launched online shopping and grocery delivery service to more than 60 communities in Pennsylvania. A new fulfillment facility in Camp Hill services Peapod by Giant’s home and workplace grocery delivery to these communities.

Jim Mulcahy, sales manager for New World Farming Trade, headquartered in New York, NY, said that the company is excited about the launch of its trademark “Muscatel from Grandma” grape packaging.

“The pink seedless Muscatel grape is a specialty product which is exotic in nature and has a brief window from March to approximately the first week of May,” explained Mulcahy.

“It isn’t a typical year-round on the shelf type of grape, and so we developed a highly distinctive packaging bag for instant customer recognition,” he added.

A year ago, Dana Summers joined Market Fresh Produce, LLC, based in Nixa, MO, as senior director of global operations.

Summers has 24 years of experience serving the foodservice market. Thus, she has a great deal of insight into the operations of Market Fresh’s vine-ripe tomato packing facility, West Central Florida Produce, based in Tampa, FL. Market Fresh acquired West Central Florida in August 2013.