C&S Wholesale Grocers has appointed Christopher Brown as senior vice president of independent sales, effective Sept. 29. According to the company, this appointment underscores C&S’s commitment to its independent customers and reflects its plans to continue to grow its independent business.

YOUNG HARRIS, GA — The Southeast Produce Council opened its annual fall conference Thursday evening, Sept. 25, at the Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa, here, with its traditional get-acquainted opening party. This year's opening party was dubbed the Get Acquainted Hoedown at Brasstown, in keeping with the theme of this year's event: the Hoedown Touchdown Throwdown in Brasstown.

Atlas Produce and Distribution Inc., a shipper of 100 percent natural strictly California-grown dates, announced that the 2014 date harvest is under way.

Stemilt Growers has promoted Tate Mathison to director of sales and Dennis Howell to director of planning. The newly created positions are a continuation of the company’s strategic goals centered on sales planning and process development.

From his office in Parma, ID, Champion Produce Sales President John Wong said in early September that the 2014-15 Spanish Sweet onion crop had started shipping on Aug. 18.

Sheds at Champion Produce, Tamura Farms and Giant Produce are “all going strong,” he said.

“Our harvest will likely run into October, and so far the weather looks very good,” Wong said. “The crop was early as far as maturing, with heat in late June and early July bringing it on seven to 14 days ahead.”

“Our specialty product line includes fresh and peeled shallots, pearl, cipolline and boiler onions, and we pack for both the retail and foodservice sectors,” said Patsy Ross, vice president of marketing for Christopher Ranch headquartered in Gilroy, CA. “And we carry a full line of retail dried chiles as well as a line of sun dried tomatoes. We also grow, pack and sell elephant garlic.

Christopher Ranch grows shallots, garlic and elephant garlic and it works with grower-shippers on the remaining items in its extensive line.