TAMPA, FL — Though Seatrade Group Reefer Chartering N.V. has been in business for more than 60 years, the Curacao-based company — with North American operations in Tampa and Philadelphia — is still taking a progressive approach to business, carving out a niche in the produce industry as a leading carrier of international fresh cargo.

WILMINGTON, DE — Being the first port along the Delaware River from the coast gives the state-owned port of Wilmington, here, a competitive advantage.

Just four hours upriver from the Atlantic, Wilmington is among the top-ranked North American ports for fresh fruit imports and juice concentrate and has one of the larger dockside cold storage facilities in the U.S. Each year, more than 1.5 million tons of bananas, pineapples, grapes, deciduous fruit out of Chile and Argentina, and citrus from Morocco are offloaded at the port.

Warm weather in California’s Salinas Valley, as well as throughout the nation, has led to a demand-exceeds-supply situation with iceberg lettuce driving that market to $20 f.o.b., and bringing other items along with it.

Marketers of fresh produce are creatively crafting campaigns designed to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among children.

In announcing the new senior executives on his marketing and retail promotion teams, Avocados From Mexico Chief Executive Officer Tim O'Connor said the organization is well poised to move forward and develop some exciting new programs.

Recent weather events that have decreased sweet potato inventories combined with strong demand on the domestic and export markets should bolster prices for sweet potato growers this year, according to industry members.