Page 222 - Roduce Editorials News Today

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA. The following businesses an...

All are invited to attend the National Watermelon Promotion Board's upcoming presentation: Affecting Watermelon Demand through Promotion: NWPB Research and Results. The one-hour session will take place Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. at the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown as a part of the National Watermelon Association Annual Meeting & Convention.

For a produce department to succeed, freshness is obviously a priority. For Roche Bros., local products help provide that freshness required to keep shoppers coming back. The local angle comes naturally as local is part of Roche Bros.’ DNA.

Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, recently announced Melissa Ackerman as the newest member of its board of directors. Ackerman will develop Brighter Bites’ partnerships with produce companies and organizations throughout the country, further strengthening its ability to distribute fresh produce and nutrition education to students and families.

Rainier Fruit Co. promoted David Armenta to sales manager, a position where Armenta will be overseeing both domestic and export sales teams.  “It was an obvious choice to promote David. His desire, dedication to the company, and his ability to come alongside his coworkers is unmatched,” said Blake Belknap, vice president of sales at Rainier.

Vine-ripe tomatoes: The recent freeze in Florida had some impact on round tomatoes, which will reduce portions of acreage. I'm told the crop is not a total loss, but some of the upper parts of the plants were damaged with freeze burns. There should be some lighter production for the next few weeks. The tomato volume out of Mexico through Nogales, AZ, should see a favorable supply level with good quality.

The more things change the more they stay the same. The first Roche Bros. store opened in 1952 in Roslindale, MA, by brothers Bud and Pat Roche. Even before the first customer walked into the market, Bud and Pat set the policy created by their parents:  treat your customers like members of your own family.

G&R Farms partnered with five regional and national retail operators during November and December to raise over $13,000 in donations for seven local charities and food banks throughout the U.S thanks to their second annual Seasons of Giving promotional campaign.

The Save Mart Cos. expanded its partnership with Starship Technologies, a leading provider of autonomous delivery services, for the launch of an on-demand grocery delivery service at its Lucky California flagship store in Pleasanton, CA.

Calavo Growers Inc., a global leader in the avocado and value-added fresh food industries, announced the promotion of Gordon Breschini to director of national sales for the Calavo Fresh team, and the retirement of industry veteran Bob Collier.