NEWPORT, RI — The keynote breakfast Thursday morning, Sept. 11, was just one of the many highlights at the New England Produce Council's 2014 Produce & Floral Expo.

NEPC President Bob McGowan of Northeast Produce Sales welcomed everyone to the breakfast, beginning with a moment of silence in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on the United States back on Sept. 11, 2001.

The United Fresh Produce Association honored Paramount Citrus as the Produce Industry Advocate of the Year earlier this week at its Washington Conference. Paramount Citrus has been a long-time leader in the public policy arena, serving on several of United’s boards and councils, including United’s board of directors.

Jack Brown Produce recently added three new members to its professional staff: Maria Rivera has been named export sales manager; Tom Labbe has been appointed domestic sales manager; and Scott VanHouten will be responsible for logistics.

The National Mango Board hosted a free webinar about a month ago in an effort to familiarize importers of processed mangos with the group.

Ronnie Cohen, vice president of sales for Vision Import Group, headquartered in River Edge, NJ, explained to The Produce News about how the company’s mango program is organized so that it has year-round supplies of high-quality mangos.

The company sources from Central American and South American countries as well as Mexico.

“We are currently transitioning from northern Mexico, which is wrapping up with the Keitt variety,” said Cohen. “Brazil started about a month ago with arrivals exclusively into Northeast ports.”

Though there is a gap in mango supplies headed to the United States in September, Pompano Beach, FL-based Southern Specialties expects its fall volume to be up as much as 20-30 percent this year.

“If you stop growing, you start dying,” quipped Martin Maldonado, a tropical fruit specialist for the firm.

Repeating what everyone else in the industry is saying, Maldonado said low volume and poor quality at the end of the Mexican deal has combined with a slow start from Brazil to produce the September gap.