With almost 50 years in building packing equipment, Kerian Machines Inc. — at least for this year —- is focused on a subtle design change to improve its business offering.

Company owner James Kerian indicated that this year the firm’s packingline frames have been modified to reduce the distance between the roller and the conveyor belt. This allows ever-gentler handling, which is especially beneficial to soft products like vine-ripe tomatoes, peaches and soft apples.

ANAHEIM, CA — EMEX A.C., Mexico’s mango packer export association, late this fall will be meeting to vote on, among other topics, tightening quality standards for Mexican export mangos.  

Named Empacadoras de Mango de Exportación A.C. and based in Zapopan, Jalisco, the group’s exporters are the 65 hot-water treatment plants that process mangos to suit USDA phytosanitary standards for the United States.

“One hundred percent of our volume goes to the U.S.,” said Enrique Sánchez, who started his two-year stint as EMEX president in February.

It’s hard to believe that summer has past, fall is here, and we are already seeing Christmas decorations and merchandise in the stores. That should be a signal to start planning produce programs for the big holiday shopping season.

Thanksgiving is just ahead, with Christmas not far behind. This means it’s time to get organized and ready to set your merchandising strategies in place.

ANAHEIM, CA — In November, Market Fresh Produce LLC, which has its business office in Nixa, MO, will be opening a revitalized warehouse 40 miles away in the southeastern Missouri town of Monett.

Tyler Phipps, general manager of the Monett operation, told The Produce News at the PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, that the facility’s multiple functions are to be a tomato repacking facility, a ripening service and a redistribution center.

“We had a very successful PMA Fresh Summit show in Anaheim this year,” said Daniela Ferro, communication coordinator for Mastronardi Produce Ltd., headquartered in Leamington, ON. “Chef Nikki Dinki was in our kitchen all weekend creating amazing dishes using our signature products, as well as our featured product ‘Discover the World’s Flavors’ ‘Wild Wonders. Full of diverse colors, shapes and flavors, this mix of tomatoes from around the world is the perfect way to create unique dishes.”

Organic grower Wholesum Harvest took home top honors at the 2014 Sensory Experience Contest at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Convention and Expo, held Oct. 17-19 in Anaheim, CA.

Wholesum Harvest, one of 10 finalists competing in the contest, won the Buyers’ Choice Award for its Organic Eggplant Vegetable Balls with Roma Tomato Sauce. The recipes were developed exclusively for the company by Chef Tony Merola in Wholesum Harvest’s executive kitchen.