“Babé Farms grows a year-round variety of specialty vegetables including a spectrum of baby carrots, beets, specialty radishes, baby cauliflower, Romanesco, organic kales, specialty salads and a variety of specialty root vegetables,” said Ande Manos, marketing and new business development director for the Santa Maria, CA-based grower and shipper.

Allegiance Retail Services LLC, a retailer-owned cooperative that provides marketing, advertising, technological and operational support as well as a full line of "Foodtown" private-label products, has announced the election of its board of managers at the company’s annual membership meeting, which was held at the Allegiance Headquarters facility, in Iselin, NJ, on March 18.

Elected to the Allegiance board of managers were Nicholas D’Agostino III, John Estevez, Christopher Evans, Daniel Katz, David Maniaci, Esmail Mobarak, Louis Scaduto Jr., John Shakoor and Michael Stolarz.

Atlas Produce & Distribution Inc., a grower-shipper of California-grown premium dates, is excited to continue to offer fruit certified Kosher for Passover.

"All our dates are Kosher year-round, but we take it a step further this time of year with Kosher for Passover certification," Robert Dobrzanski, president of Atlas Produce, said in a press release. "The fact that our Medjools are Kosher for Passover certified give consumers a sweet healthy treat to enjoy."

This year Passover takes place April 14-22.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly forecast of the 2013-14 Florida orange crop decreased to 110 million boxes, a drop from the previous projection of 114 million. The drop can be attributed to a reduction in Valencias — from 61 million boxes to 57 million.

Davis, CA-based Marrone Bio Innovations, a global provider of bio-based pest management and plant health products, recently hired Linda V. Moore to fill the newly created general counsel position.

As is true for other producers in the Florida strawberry deal, Gary Wishnatzki, chief executive officer for Wish Farms, said the season was disappointing. “The strawberry season was not too good for many growers,” he told The Produce News. “Everyone was crying the blues.”

Wish Farms is located in the heart of strawberry country in Plant City, FL. In addition to strawberries, the company grows and markets seasonal mixed vegetables as well as blueberries.