Page 110 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Crunch Time Apple Growers, a cooperative of more than 150 growers throughout New York state who are united with one mission: to introduce new, flavorful apple varieties to the marketplace, is seeing continued success with its SnapDragon and RubyFrost varieties.

Wada Farms is seeing a bit of a delay with the start of its potato harvest in Colorado, and it anxiously awaits the influx of additional product in the currently depleted pipeline. “We have nothing left in storage right now [in Colorado], and we’re seeing record high markets,” Michele Peterson, who works in sales for Wada Farms, said Aug. 11. “We usually start harvest around August 15, but we’re a couple of weeks late this year.”

The New England Produce Council’s 22nd annual Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo was held Aug. 24-25 at the Omni Boston Hotel at The Seaport. This was the first year at the new venue, and high expectations for the event were exceeded. Produce industry members showcased their products for a packed trade show floor.  

The New England Produce Council’s 22nd annual Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo was held Aug. 24-25 at the Omni at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. Floral industry members in attendance showcased their products for a packed trade show floor. The show was a great opportunity to get facetime buyers in the New England area.  

Ahold Delhaize USA announced Nicholas Bertram, president of The GIANT Company, will leave the organization on Aug. 31 to pursue new opportunities. Upon Nick’s transition, John Ruane has been appointed interim president.

Kowalski’s Markets, the family-owned grocery retailer with 11 stores based in Woodbury, MN, announced that recently they started to offer Fyffes Fair Trade Certified Bananas.

A recent study by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF-IFAS) found the shelf-life of grape tomatoes can be dramatically improved using an innovative postharvest solution by Verdant™ Technologies. The research team, led by Dr. Steven A. Sargent, conducted a variety of tests on grape tomatoes, examining the firmness, color, weight retention and decay of tomatoes treated with Verdant’s HarvestHold Fresh®.

Chicago-based FOODWORKS, a restaurant incubator that specializes in unique dining solutions throughout the country, has launched GREEN Powered by FOODWORKS in partnership with Produce For Better Health Foundation (PBH), the nonprofit organization powering the Have A Plant® Movement to advance fruit and vegetable consumption in America.

The New England Produce Council kicked off its annual Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo Wednesday evening, Aug. 24, with two opening cocktail receptions, held at The Sporting Club at the Omni at the Seaport Hotel, in Boston. Coast to Coast Produce and North Bay Produce co-sponsored the VIP Reception, and 4M Fruit Distributors sponsored the Cocktail Reception, according to NEPC Executive Director Laura Sullivan.

Applewood Fresh Growers LLC is a fourth-generation grower, packer, shipper and marketer whose roots go back to 1935. The company is owned by the Swindeman family, who also own Applewood orchards—a grower and packer of apples located in southeast Michigan. “Apples are the main produce item we sell, accounting for 95 percent of what we do, but we also sell some Michigan asparagus,” said Brian J Coates, vice president of sales and business development for the Sparta, MI-based company.