A delayed Red River Valley red potato crop was very late in revealing itself. But by Oct. 3, about 50 percent of the shipping district’s crop had been harvested, according to Ted Kreis, the marketing director of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association in East Grand Forks, MN.

Datepac, packer and marketer of the "Natural Delights" brand of Medjool dates and date products, will introduce the newest member of its Snack Pack line at the 2013 Fresh Summit.  

Developed to meet the needs of today’s health-conscious and busy consumer, the all new Coconut Date Clusters and Almond Date Clusters are convenient, bite-sized cousins to Natural Delights' already-popular date roll snack products.

“Southern Specialties is in the process of creating an extension to our popular microwavable specialty lineup, all under the popular ‘Southern Selects’ brand,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “The line additions will include a French bean medley, which is a blend of green and yellow beans. And our play on the ever-popular peas and carrots will include hand-peeled baby carrots and sugar snap peas.”

Vision Produce Co., based in Los Angeles, added DONALD SOUTHER as senior director of sales and marketing.

He will report directly to Vision Produce President Bill Vogel.

At the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in New Orleans, Oct. 18-20, Brooks Tropicals LLC, headquartered in Homestead, FL, will be promoting the company’s solutions for the rapidly growing category of tropical fruits and vegetables.

“Specialties include Caribbean Red papayas, ‘SlimCado’ avocados, Persian limes, Florida starfruit and Uniq Fruit,” said Mary Ostlund, director of marketing for the company.”

Andrew Scott is looking forward to doing a little preaching at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in New Orleans, Oct. 18-20. For the past two decades, the industry has known Scott as a go-to produce guy in Atlanta and in recent years for his leadership role in the Southeast Produce Council, which he currently serves as president.