Mary Blackmon, founder of Farm Star Living, a national lifestyle brand highlighting farms, farm-fresh foods and the farm-to-table food movement, has been selected as one of Country Woman magazine's "Most Amazing Women." In honor of its anniversary, Country Woman has identified their 45 "Amazing Women" — including Tricia Yearwood, Loretta Lynn, Danica Patrick and Blackmon.

By the time the 2015 Super Bowl reaches the end of the first quarter on Feb. 1, at least 125 million people will have the opportunity to see a fresh produce item advertised along with the top consumer brands in the world.

When Scott Danner moved from Kansas City, KS, last July to become the president of the foodservice supplier Premier Produce, his mission was to profitably build sales.

“So far, so good,” Danner said of progress at Premier, which is located in Pembroke Park, FL.

Apples stored at Hess Bros. Fruit Co. in Lancaster, PA, are in very good shape this year. On Dec. 12, Fred Hess, co-owner of the company, told The Produce News that the storage condition is excellent.

“The apples have good pressure and all other conditions look great at this time,” he said. “We calculate pressure — or firmness — of the fruit by weight. We weigh them when they go into storage and then weigh them throughout the year.”

Significant changes in pricing and supply are spicing up dynamics in the domestic ginger market. Jim Provost, owner of I Love Produce in Kelton, PA, summarized things this way in late December: “When China hits full capacity, within about the next 30 days [by the middle of January 2015], prices will drop to 2012-2013 levels.”

SAVANNAH, GA — Icy winds blasted this usually sunny city during the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference Jan. 8-11, dropping temperatures to as low as 17 degrees, but that was the only thing amiss during the growing annual event at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.