In addition to its standard foodservice packs, Gold Coast Packing Inc. in Santa Maria, CA, does “a tremendous amount of customization for the foodservice trade,” according to Brent Scattini, vice president of sales.

F&S Produce Co. Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of fresh-cut produce and other refrigerated value-added products in the Northeast, announced it will be introducing Sam’s Fresh Salsa to all its customers after a successful test market in Philadelphia and New York.

MBG Marketing held a grand opening ceremony for its new fresh and value-added blueberry facility July 16 in Alma, GA. There were more than 250 people in attendance between MBG and Naturipe staff, grower-members, business and community leaders, and local and state dignitaries, including Peggy Murphy, mayor of Alma, and Georgia State House Representative Chad Nimmer.

With summer in full swing and fresh fruits and vegetables in season, Stop & Shop is telling its customers that there is no better time to stock up and enjoy locally grown produce.

In partnership with more than 41 farmers, an array of farm fresh produce grown within nearby communities can now be found at all Stop & Shop stores. Among the popular local produce items that are currently in season and available at Stop & Shop include corn, tomatoes, green beans, mushrooms, squash, blueberries, cucumbers and green peppers.

Scott Danner, a produce industry veteran who recently left Liberty Fruit in Kansas City, KS, after a 10-year stint, was named president of Pembroke Park, FL-based Premier Produce.

The 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend (EQ) study, which measures brand equity for more than 1,500 brands across 170 categories, finds traditional grocery store brands rank highest overall in three of the four regions surveyed. The EQ index examines three key factors of brand equity: familiarity, quality and purchase consideration.