CERRITOS, CA — Nearly 300 Southern California produce professionals turned out April 23 for the Fresh Produce & Floral Council's membership luncheon, held at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, here.

Packingline food-safety upgrades at Wiers Farm Inc., located in Willard, OH, will provide “100 percent stainless steel lines” this year, according to Ben Wiers, a family owner. Stainless steel is ideal for such lines because it can be sanitized very thoroughly.

On Jan. 1, 2014, Sanfillipo Produce Co. Inc. took possession of the Columbus Produce Terminal Market. The acquisition included the purchase of Macaluso Fruit, which had been for a long time a friendly competitor on the market. Macaluso Fruit was renamed Macaluso Fruit LLC and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanfillipo Produce.

Forty-year old James (Jamie) Sanfillipo III, operates the company with his father, Jim Sanfillipo Jr.

Charlie Hong Kong Restaurant honored field workers who harvest and pack chard for Lakeside Organic Gardens with a special lunch of Asian fusion cuisine on Earth Day.

Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, expects it will harvest a volume of asparagus from its operations in Pasco, WA, that is on par with the 2013 season.

“The harvest began last week and will [conclude] by the end of June,” Marketing Manager Chloé Varennes told The Produce News on April 17. “We are expecting a good quality crop this season.”

The asparagus harvest is currently under way at Snow & Sons Co. “We are getting a normal start, and the cold early weather hasn’t been much of a problem so far,” President Steve Thomas told The Produce News.