The New England Produce Council has announced the moderator and panelists for the Educational Breakfast Panel Session during its annual expo this August.

It was nearly 16 years ago when the Divine Flavor company formed and the first shipments of produce were sent to the supermarkets. The year was 2006 when CEO of Grupo Alta, Alan Aguirre, and Carlos Bon, at that time sales manager, joined forces with Pedro Batiz to create a brand which would eventually go on to be known as one of the largest grower-shippers of Mexican table grapes and Bell peppers.

Paul Catania’s experience with California figs dates back decades to when he noticed that the fruit always caught people’s eyes at produce shows. Then he started distributing figs in Toronto.

“It was a great market for fresh figs,” Catania said. “So, I started that out in California 30 years ago.”

His efforts grew to the point that he also dealt in Mexican figs to fill the gap in the California season, which runs from June through early November.

SpartanNash has promoted Jean-Paul Calabio to the position of vice president, chief information security officer.

Natural Delights has launch Truffles, a wholesome take on chocolate covered fruit snacks. After a successful trial period with retail buyers and consumer media, the brand is excited to launch a full-scale marketing campaign around the new product, now available to order.

A mild spring has set the stage for a successful season at Satur Farms, a grower of gourmet lettuces, herbs and baby vegetables based in Cutchogue, NY, on the bucolic North Fork of Long Island.

Paulette Satur, founder and CEO of Satur Farms, told The Produce News on June 6 that the season is off to a great start, albeit about two weeks late, with terrific yields and quality.