Diet-friendly avocado season underway
For an avocado to meet the increasing demands of health conscious consumers, it's got to have less fat and fewer calories. Its got to be SlimCado, the naturally light alternative to the leading Californian variety.
The season is underway for this popular Florida avocado. Brooks Tropicals Inc. has just started picking SlimCados from its groves in south Florida, with shipments carrying through next February. Last season the industry total for all Florida avocados was over 1 million bushels, which was 40 percent higher than the 2003 season.
Pride of San Juan celebrates facility upgrades
San Juan Bautista, CA-based Pride of San Juan has completed additions to its headquarters that add upwards of 112,000 square feet, bringing the total facility size to 178,000 square feet.
The move consolidates San Juan Bautista-area operations under one roof; storage of bell peppers and dry vegetables had been done in nearby Hollister, and a warehouse on the PSJ ranch had been used prior to the consolidation. About 100,000 square feet of additional space were used for cooler and production operations.
Little carries big message for PMA Foodservice attendees
MONTEREY, CA -- Produce companies pride themselves on providing freshness in their products, but what consumers really care about is taste, Steven Little told his audience at a July 25 session during the PMA Foodservice Conference, Tours & Expo, here.
Mr. Little hit his audience between the eyes with a sprinkling of comments such as the one about taste, telling attendees at the outset that he was not a motivational speaker but a speaker who speaks the truth and has information to impart.
Jalil promoted to managing editor of The Produce News
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ -- Daniel Jalil, assistant editor of The Produce News, based here, has been promoted to managing editor of the publication, effective Aug. 1.
Mr. Jalil, 26, joined The Produce News in May 2002 as assistant editor after graduating from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English.
IN THE TRENCHES: Common sense in short supply these days
Major League Baseball is heading into the best part of its season, as the race for playoff positions gets more competitive. Knowing that I am a baseball fanatic, my wife ordered the MLB cable television package, and I'm now in baseball heaven.
I must admit to being a channel surfer, as I switch from one station to another to try to keep pace with every ball game. We have one of those giant flat screen TVs on the wall, and it actually makes you feel as if you are at the ballpark.
Brazilian papayas to get boost in three U.S. markets
A major sampling tour will look to boost consumer awareness of papayas from Brazil and fortify three leading North American markets of the fruit.
Washington potatoes gain ground in dumping dispute
MOSES LAKE, WA Since joining the Washington State Potato Commission in February 2005 as its director of trade, Matt Harris has tackled a number of issues involving foreign trade partners of the United States, and the recent hearing before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal is one of the more prominent.
Keith Frosceno leaves Bozzuto's for Supervalu
Keith Frosceno, vice president of produce and floral at Bozzuto's Inc., left that company July 15, and will join Supervalu Inc.
"Keith is a very polished executive and a very knowledgeable guy," Steve Heggelke, senior vice president of merchandising and procurement for Bozzutos, a full-service food distributor based in Cheshire, CT, told The Produce News July 27. Were very happy for him.
PMA foodservice show draws high praise from attendees
MONTEREY, CA If networking truly is the strength of the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference Tours & Exposition held July 23-25, then produce industry professionals have to be gratified by the more than 1,500 attendees who gathered here.
Included among the 1,500 attendees was double the number of foodservice buyers as last year.
Ellie Coen proud to follow in her mother's footsteps
Ellie Coen's mother always said that her daughter would love working in the produce industry. It turns out that mom was right. "She was an inspiration to me," the 28-year-old account manager for Dovex Marketing in Wenatchee, WA, said of B.J. Holland, who died just over a year-and-a-half ago. Well known in the Wenatchee Valley fruit business, Ms. Holland had her own pear orchard, which is still managed by her husband, and had worked over the last 12 to 15 years in sales for Dovex as well as for Stemilt Growers and Gwin, White & Prince Inc., also in Wenatchee.