“We have begun shipping what will be a bountiful blueberry season out of British Columbia,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL.

“We have been shipping blueberries from this region for over 10 years,” he continued. “They are available under the ‘Southern Selects’ label in full pint and 18-ounce clamshells.”

Marc Holbik, director of grower relations for Ecoripe Tropicals in Medley, FL, told The Produce News that rambutan is truly an exotic gourmet fruit with an appearance that will impress food lovers around the world.

“The translucent flesh of this tree fruit has a crisp, agreeable and sweet grape-like flavor with just a hint of tartness,” said Holbik. “The reddish exterior shell is covered with soft, flexible, hair-like bristles that give rambutan one of the more exotic fruit appearances.”

After 42 years with one of the Midwest's most well-known retailers, Michael O'Brien is planning to retire from Schnuck Markets Inc. at the end of October, but he is planning to pursue other opportunities within the produce sector.

The 61-year-old vice president of produce and floral told The Produce News Aug. 4 that the plan for retirement from this phase in his career has been in the works for a while.

Robert Victor Antle, an industry pioneer who was the patriarch of the Antle family and a founding member of Tanimura & Antle Inc., died Aug. 3 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital with his family at his side. He was 78.

Sunrain Varieties LLC, a producer of fresh potato seed, recently purchased a 1,600-acre farm located in the Victor-Driggs, ID, area.

“This acreage will be used primarily for early generation seed production and we look forward to a great fall harvest,” Aron Derbidge, business manager at Sunrain, said in a press release. 

The company also plans construction of a world-class storage and grading facility on the property.

Sunkist Growers is showing that “C” truly stands for citrus as part of the Produce Marketing Association and Sesame Workshop ‘eat brighter!’ initiative.