RETAIL VIEW: Cut-greens firms target African-Americans
Ethnic marketing has been a popular concept in the produce industry for the past few years, but purveyors of this niche marketing are usually talking about the growing Hispanic or Asian communities. While African-Americans have long since assimilated into the U.S. melting pot, as a group they do have some specific buying habits that do allow for niche marketing " though reaching that segment offers its own challenges.
California fresh fig growers contemplate marketing order
On a voluntary basis with dried and processed figs, the California fresh fig industry currently participates in the activities of the California Fig Advisory Board. However, according to Richard Matoian, manager of the board, that could change soon.
?There is a potential that we are going to be voting on a [fresh] fig marketing order here in the next few months," he said. If that comes about, "it is likely the Fig Advisory Board is going to be the umbrella organization representing both the fresh and the dried marketing orders."
Bella Sicilia delivers delicious citrus to the U.S. market
?We look to Italians, including those in Sicily, to teach us in the U.S. about food," Paul McGowan, director of preclearance programs at USDA, APHIS, plant protection and quarantine division, said in his address and presentation on U.S. import protocol to Sicilian and American dignitaries and citrus industry professionals in Catania, Italy, in early January. "The Italians, as well as the French, are considered the world?s experts on food, and their cultures have our highest respect."
Mantelli rejoins Christopher Ranch
Garlic producer Christopher Ranch LLC in Gilroy, CA, has hired Mike Mantelli as its general operations manager to oversee and analyze company operations from the ground up.
?I?ll be working on strategies to advance Christopher Ranch?s position in the produce industry," said Mr. Mantelli.
Winter pepper program strongest to date for Oppenheimer
With more than 1.5 million cases of under-glass peppers produced by the Divemex group of Mexican greenhouse growers, The Oppenheimer Group is seeing its strongest winter program to date, according to Mike Reed, category director.
Mr. Reed said that Divemex?s early winter production in its southern growing areas "has allowed us to offer customers a seamless supply of bell peppers when Canadian production dropped off in late October."
Incredible Fresh?s produce and dairy lines sold to partnership
Naples, FL-based Incredible Fresh, which bought and sold a full line of fruits and vegetables including imported specialty items, has sold its produce and dairy lines to a partnership made up of three separate partners.
Developing Sun World is the new owner?s goal
In the short term and "from a customer perspective," there will be "no change? in Sun World International?s operations following Black Diamond Capital Management LLC acquiring it, according to Christopher Kipley, a partner at Black Diamond.
Longer term, such changes as there may be "are largely going to be driven? by people who have been working at Sun World for years and who "know [the company] best," he said.
T&A hires Lara Grossman as its director of marketing
Lara Grossman, who held the position of value-added product manager for Spreckels, CA-based grower and shipper Tanimura & Antle Inc. before switching to Ready Pac Produce Inc. in August 2004, has returned to T&A as its new director of marketing.
Ms. Grossman, 36, had worked for T&A from August 2002 until being assigned last summer to become marketing product manager for Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac when Ready Pac acquired Salad Time, T&A?s packaged salad line.
Challenging season has Nogales marketers looking forward to spring
?The season to date has been absolutely terrible," said Joe Bernardi of Bernardi & Associates Inc. in Nogales, AZ, who echoed the sentiments of most of the other Nogales brokers and distributors who were interviewed by The Produce News during the latter half of February.
Unusually heavy rain in many growing areas in Mexico has created supply and quality challenges in tomatoes and most other commodities. Market prices for many items have been dragging bottom for much of the season, even when supplies were shorter than normal.
C.H. Robinson celebrates 100 years
Minneapolis-based C.H. Robinson Worldwide, which started modestly as a produce company in 1905, has evolved over the past 100 years into one of North America?s larger third-party logistics companies.
C.H. Robinson has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe and Asia. Most of its revenues come from providing truck, rail, ocean and air transportation throughout the world.
However, sourcing and information services also are important components of the company?s overall business.