With the mushroom industry’s “Swap It or Top It” and blendability campaigns in full swing and having a strong influence, especially on foodservice operators, To-Jo Mushroom Inc. in Avondale, PA, has developed a list of talking points showing the key attributes of chopped mushrooms. The list goes hand-in-hand with the company’s chopped mushroom item packaged for its foodservice customers.

The brief, easy-to-understand list gets right to the point:

• Chopped mushrooms are convenient and versatile, cutting prep time.

“We are working with many of our retail and foodservice partners on end-of-summer Portabella promotions,” Pete Wilder, marketing director for To-Jo Mushroom Inc. in Avondale, PA, said on July 25. “We have seen some lift in that segment over the summer and are looking for one last push with some aggressive promotional schedules.”

Wilder also noted that the company continues to see interest in its chopped mushroom varieties from its foodservice operation side as the “Trend to Blend” initiative continues to gather momentum.

Monterey Mushrooms, based in Watsonville, CA, has continued to grow its line of organic white, brown and specialty mushrooms. “And we have other value-added products in testing that we hope to roll out this fall,” said Joe Caldwell, Monterey’s vice president.

“Especially worth noting is the expanded Monterey Logistics group,” he continued. “This division provides outstanding delivery service to our direct customers, but also consolidates LTL freight for other produce companies to improve the effectiveness of deliveries to distribution centers.”

Fruit d’Or announced Bridges Produce as its exclusive fresh partner in the United States, expanding Bridges Produce’s product line to include both fresh and dried organic cranberries.

Fresh organic Stevens and other premium variety cranberries will be on the shelves from early October through December in the United States, while in Canada, HyRed cranberries will be available in late September, ready for Canadian Thanksgiving.

Fruit d’Or’s International Account Manager Marie-Michèle Le Moine noted her company has had a long relationship with some of the people at Bridges.

“Mid- to late August will be a time of transition regarding supply here in the U.S.,”  said Doug Meyer, vice president of sales and marketing at West Pak Avocados Inc. in Murrieta, CA, in a written statement to The Produce News. “Mexican supply will be fully into the new crop. Quality and maturity are good, and supply is forecasted to be consistent.”

Metro Inc. instituted a Local Purchasing Policy in May 2013, including a guiding principle designed to increase the presence and visibility of regional products in its stores. The company is currently running a pilot project for regional products, which has already resulted in several new agreements with local suppliers, including Les Serres René Fontaine and Les Serres Lefort.