eHarvestHub, a leading provider of user-friendly and affordable technology for mid- to small growers, has launched its free produce traceability platform.

"Available to all mid- to small growers, it is the only free traceability solution that meets the Produce Traceability Initiative standards," the company stated in a press release.

The latest research on the effectiveness of commodity promotion programs has once again shown that advertising works.

Richard Sexton, an agricultural marketing economist and professor at the University of California-Davis, recently completed an extensive project with a colleague measuring the effective of the promotions done under the auspices of the Hass Avocado Board. These promotions include those done by the board as well as the California Avocado Commission, the Mexican groups that were forerunners to Avocados from Mexico and the Chilean Avocado Importers Association.

Market Fresh recently hired Dana Summer as its senior director of global operations. She will develop and execute strategies to improve procurement processes, policies and tools.

Fingerling potatoes are playing an increasingly important role in the current and future offerings of Bancroft, WI-based RPE Produce, Inc.

Randy Shell, RPE’s vice president of marketing and new business development, detailed this in an interview with The Produce News.

MIAMI — A gentleman. Humble. Hard-working. Those were just a few of the oft-repeated words used to describe Joe Procacci, chairman and chief executive officer of Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Fresh Produce Association at its annual Winter Leadership Meeting, held Jan. 21-23 at the Trump National Doral Country Club, here.

One California shipper said it a "classic example of beautiful weather out here (California) combining with terrible weather in the East to produce cheap low markets."

David Cook, sales manager for Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard, CA, said "we have had gorgeous weather for weeks on end. It seems our winter came during a two week period in early December and it has been beautiful ever since."

He said that has led to better than usual supplies and East Coast movement that is down a bit because of the terrible weather.