Page 126 - Roduce Editorials News Today

The IFPA Foodservice Conference kicked off July 28 in Monterey, CA. Attendees took part in buyer meetings, made new business connections and got together with old friends. After the general session "An Afternoon with Robert Irvine," attendees headed to a networking reception at The Barns and concluded with the Church Brothers Farms' IFPA Ranch Party.

Azzule Systems has hired Nicole Stovicek as a sales representative. As a member of the sales team, Stovicek will utilize her knowledge and experience to reach potential clients in the Southwestern United States. Her first priority will be to enhance Azzule and Primus Group’s awareness of the industry’s needs.

Retail produce departments could be entering a period of unprecedented growth if they seize the opportunity to capitalize on the emerging trend of food as medicine.

The famous, flavorful, limited-edition Hatch Chiles are back in season and the quality is some of the best in recent years for Frieda’s Branded Produce, which is kicking off the season with strong supplies and outstanding flavor. Frieda’s works in partnership with certified, authentic growers located in Hatch, NM. This popular pepper supply is anticipated to pick up throughout July, with the season expected to continue through the end of September.

HMC Farms has partnered with Tevel Aerobotics Technologies to pilot its drone harvesting system utilizing flying autonomous robots. Each robot has the ability to fly, locate fruit, harvest and place the fruit all on its own with no human interaction required.    

Retailer Giant Eagle is expanding its partnership with Flashfood, a digital marketplace that provides customers access to heavily discounted food nearing its best-by date, to all of its 173 corporate Giant Eagle and Giant Eagle Market District stores. Starting in Cleveland, the 140-store expansion will steadily roll out throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania and will be completed by the end of October.

Summer break is finally here for most of us! My daughter has finished up kindergarten and we are looking forward to several weeks of quality time at home together. My other three little ones and I have really missed her this year. She is excited and curious about cooking so I’m looking forward to connecting with her in the kitchen during the break. She loves to enjoy the food that she knows she made herself, which makes it so rewarding!

Basin Gold Cooperative and Sun-Glo will represent Fresh Solutions Network LLC at booth No. 512 at this week’s IFPA Foodservice Expo in Monterey, CA.  They will be featuring A Cut Above fresh potatoes, select Idaho Russets, and a full range of onions (red, yellow and white).  A Cut Above potatoes use select white and Russet potato varieties to yield consistently superior house-made baked, mashed, potato chips and French fries.

After several days of disruption by truck driver protests, the port of Oakland’s marine terminals are open and operating normally. The port of Oakland is one of the biggest gateways for California’s agricultural exporters, and last week's shutdown exacerbated the congestion of containers at the seaport.

Baldor Specialty Foods partners with more than 1,000 farms to supply food items to restaurants, wholesalers, corporate foodservice, schools, hospitals and more — but foodservice has long been its bread and butter. “The success of our foodservice business has allowed us to venture into other sales channels,” said Benjamin Walker, senior vice president of sales, marketing and merchandising for the Bronx, NY-based company.