Pear Bureau Northwest to sponsor local Olympic athlete
The Pear Bureau Northwest will sponsor local U.S. National Ski Team athlete Torin Koos during the 2005-06 season.
Mr. Koos, a native resident of Leavenworth, WA, is a premiere Nordic ski athlete who will compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. As part of the
sponsorship, he will make appearances at schools and other events as a spokesperson for USA Pears.
More than 1,500 attend PMA foodservice conference
NEWARK, DE -- More than 1,500 produce industry professionals, including double the number of foodservice buyers as last year, gathered at the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference, Tours & Exposition held July 23 to 25 in Monterey, CA.
"Restaurant operators at the Foodservice Conference are up in caliber and number," PMA foodservice board Chairman Gene Harris, senior purchasing manager of Denny's Corp., said in a July 27 statement. "This reflects PMA's industry leadership and the significance that produce plays on their customer's plate."
Maine broccoli now shipping from Fresh from the Start
RIVERHEAD, NY Fresh from the Start LLC, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, began shipping its Maine broccoli earlier this month.
"We had our first cut of broccoli on July 16," said Sales Manager Eric Scannelli. We started out a little dry, but we have had very good weather conditions and the outlook for the season is very good.
Save Mart touts its worth in meeting with suppliers
Modesto, CA-based Save Mart Supermarkets Inc. has launched a campaign to help its suppliers recognize the size and scope of the chain and advantages the chain may have to offer.
Dole claims Ready Pac stole its employees
Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. has sued its competitor Ready Pac Produce Inc. for engaging in "unfair competition" because three top Dole employees have joined former Dole COO Larry Kern at Ready Pac in the last few months.
The suit was filed in Monterey Superior Court June 18 and alleges that Ready Pac has engaged and continues to engage in unfair competition. The suit names three employees that left Dole between March and June and now work for Ready Pac.
Produce suppliers carve out small niche at Fancy Food Show in New York
It is little surprise that a trade show named "Fancy Food" would quickly grow into one of the food industry's larger trade shows. It draws so many people that it is now held three times a year in three major U.S. cities: San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
Rainbow of Flavors seedless grape clamshells now available from Sun World
Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, is releasing a new, custom-packed clamshell this season called Rainbow of Flavors.
It features either two or three Sun World seedless grape varieties and is packaged in a two- or four-pound clamshell, which can include any combination of red, green or black seedless grapes.
'Fresh and seasonal' the mantra of successful new restaurant chain
Darden Restaurants Inc. in Orlando, FL, the world's largest casual dining restaurant operator, has developed a new restaurant concept that perfectly suits the trend toward high-nutrition and lower-calorie dining. The organization, which is best known for its Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants, opened its first Seasons 52 Fresh Grill and Wine Bar in Orlando, FL, in February 2003. The restaurant proved so successful that it opened two additional locations in 2005: one in Fort Lauderdale and another in Altamonte Springs, near Orlando.
The Herbal Garden looks to expand its reach through alliance with Fresh Connect
The Herbal Garden in Wauconda, IL, and Fresh Connect in Chicago have signed an agreement whereby Fresh Connect will handle foodservice sales for The Herbal Garden. Acting as account representatives, Fresh Connect will represent The Herbal Garden to chain operators as well as distributors.
Foxy and Hidden Valley launch two new vegetable trays
Gonzales, CA-based Foxy Foods, a leading supplier of fresh vegetable trays to consumers, has introduced two new vegetable trays using national brand, "Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing."
The vegetable trays, available in 18- and 36-ounce sizes, offer consumers the opportunity to use the Hidden Valley dressing, which has the highest total advertising awareness among leading bottled dressing brands with 16 percent of all consumers indicating that "Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing is the only dressing they would buy.