Target Corp. announced a number of changes across its executive leadership team, including Rick Gomez as executive vice president and chief food and beverage officer and Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.

Wish Farms, international grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, has established a growing operation in Oxnard, CA.

“This is a move that aligns well with our strategy of smart, controlled growth,” said James Peterson, vice president of sales and marketing.

With its first season in Oxnard under way, Wish Farms began harvesting strawberries mid-January and expects volume to flow into May.

Ippolito International added Greg Heinz to its sales team. Heinz has nearly 15 years of sales and commodity management experience at D'Arrigo Bros. California, working within a broad range of fresh vegetables.

Cherrylake and IMG Citrus, who are both subsidiaries of IMG Enterprises, a 90-million-dollar Florida agribusiness with diversified operations in citrus, ornamental landscape, ecosystem restoration and real estate, has appointed Melanie Ressler, Timothee Sallin and Chloe Gentry as co-CEOs of the company. Michel Sallin, who is the co-founder of IMG Enterprises and previously sole CEO, will continue on the board of directors.

The 2020 apple season was a mixed bag of experiences as the domestic production in Washington state was down approximately 15 percent from the previous year, which prompted pricing on mainline varietals to move up with the shorter crop.  Regionally, club varieties had a strong season in both volume and quality. With the price compression on domestic varieties, regional club varieties were competitively priced yet offered more desirable eating experiences compared to standard varieties.  

Are you ready to face the sales figures from last year's COVID-19 panic shopping period? Think you'll match those colossal March produce numbers? 

It looks like corporate management is at it again by handing down some impractical and unattainable sales targets. This reminds me of a time when I first experienced this tactic in my earlier years as a produce director. I believe it's termed, "Live and learn."