It was just about four years ago that the partners in Greengate Fresh LLC in Salinas, CA, filed their incorporation papers and began to put their business plan in action. By April of 2010, the firm was selling bags of lettuce and other staple commodities to the foodservice industry.

“From the very beginning we put our focus on the foodservice or hospitality industry and that is still the major portion of our business,” said Jay Iverson, vice president of sales and marketing for the firm. “We do a little bit of club store business, but basically we stick to foodservice customers.”

Kathy Hearl, marketing promotions manager for DNE World Fruit Sales, said consumers can expect to see top-quality Florida fresh citrus in the produce department this season. “The eating quality has been very good,” she told The Produce News. “We are seeing higher Brix levels this season, and the fruit is shaping up nicely. The packouts have been higher than last season.”

Although fruit is showing some evidence of wind scarring on the outside, Hearl said this does not affect the eating quality of the fruit.

Arizona officials say tainted lettuce supplied by Midwest Beef and served at a Federico's Mexican Restaurant may be the most likely source that caused 94 people to become ill from E. coli in July.

William Marler, a Seattle attorney who represents victims of foodborne outbreaks, circulated the 32-page, Nov. 25 report by Maricopa County Department of Public Health on his blog.

Senior executives from all segments of the global produce and floral supply chain are invited to profit from the leadership-level strategic discussion of industry issues and challenges scheduled to take place during the 2014 Executive Leadership Symposium Jan. 15-17 in Orlando, FL.

Timothy (Timmy) Brennan, a 19-year veteran of Triple T Transport with previous experience at Sanfillipo Produce Co. and Abbott Foods Inc., died Nov. 22. He was 53.

Sun World International LLC has appointed two additional grape marketer licensees — Fresh Produce Group‐Western Australia and Freshworld — to distribute the California company’s licensed grapes.