Four Seasons to close Texas division
Four Seasons Produce Inc. in Ephrata, PA, announced Aug. 26 that it will close its Donna, TX-based division, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP, by Nov. 1.
In a statement, Ron Carkoski, president and chief executive officer of parent company Four Seasons Produce Inc., called it "strictly a business decision" based on Four Seasons Trading Co. LP's ineffective performance. He said that the move will allow the company to focus on its vibrant market in the mid-Atlantic region.
Epic Roots introduces its new ready-to-cook 'Chard Mix'
Salinas, CA-based Epic Roots LLC, a grower and distributor of specialty greens, has announced the introduction of "Chard Mix," a ready-to-cook, multi-colored assortment of Bright Lights chard and Salad Savoy.
Bright Lights is a new generation of Swiss chard with delicately flavored brightly colored leaves of gold, orange, pink, red and white. Salad Savoy is a member of the cabbage family, while chard is actually a beet green that is grown for its delicious and nutritious leaves rather than its root.
PMA moves forward on RFID initiative and develops DVD
The Produce Marketing Association's task force moved forward with its effort to create a laymans DVD for using radio frequency identification. The task force met Aug. 18 in Dallas.
Michael McCartney, principal of QLM Consulting and chairman of Produce Marketing Associations RFID produce action group, said that the DVD will be ready before PMAs Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta in early November and will be on hand at the convention. The cost of the DVD has yet to be determined, Mr. McCartney said.
Calif. Table Grape Commission promotes late-season grapes
The California table grape season begins in May, but more than half the crop is shipped from September forward.
According to the California Table Grape Commission, "Typically 55 percent of the crop is shipped after August 31 of each year. Furthermore, out of 63 commercial varieties of fresh California table grapes, 49 of them are available during the September-through-December time period," including 14 major varieties.
Those varieties include seedless and seeded grapes in the green, red and blue-black categories.
Jeff Ritts joins Domex
Jeff Ritts has joined Domex Inc. in Yakima, WA, as an organic specialist.
The recent agreement between Domex and Blue Bird Inc. to market Blue Bird's organic product lines created the need for a dedicated organic account representative.
"Jeff brings a unique array of talents to our Domex team," company President Robert Kershaw said in a statement. His passion for the industry is clearly evident and his experience in organic and conventional fruit is a perfect fit for our current and future organic goals.
Hurricane Katrina devastates Gulfport banana facilities
"I'm really concerned about some people down there. Our biggest concern right now is the people who live down there," Marta Maitles, director of communications for Dole Fresh Fruit Co. in Westlake Village, CA, told The Produce News Aug. 30.
Ms. Maitles was speaking of Gulfport, MS, where Dole maintains a large facility to receive fruit imported from Latin America. Gulfport took the devastating brunt of the force of Hurricane Katrina.
National news reports have indicated rising fatality numbers in Mississippi in the hurricanes wake.
IGA appoints new senior director of branding and business development
IGA in Chicago has announced that James J. Walz has been named senior director of branding and business development.
Mr. Walz, who begins his appointment immediately, will report directly to IGA Vice President and U.S. Chief Growth Officer Doug Fritsch.
Produce industry to speak in one voice in farm bill debate
WASHINGTON Pressing trade issues and budget cuts will influence the 2007 farm bill, but that is not enough to dissuade fruit and vegetable businesses that are looking for a bigger slice of the pie this time around.
Korean table grapes enter the U.S. market for first time in Los Angeles
For the first time ever, fresh table grapes grown in South Korea have apparently entered the U.S. marketplace.
On Friday, Aug. 19, the Korean Agriculture & Fisheries Ministry announced that 330 kilograms of the Campbell Early grape variety, produced in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, passed quarantine inspection earlier in the week and were shipped via air to Los Angeles. The JoongAng Daily Korean newspaper reported that the grapes arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 18.
HURRICANE KATRINA UPDATE: Storm severely damages Chiquita's operations at Gulfport
CINCINNATI -- Chiquita Brands International Inc. announced that its port facilities at Gulfport, MS, were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Gulfport is one of five U.S. ports the company uses to import bananas and other fresh produce.