Page 58 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Veteran California vegetable salesman Mark McBride is pretty blunt about what he has witnessed over the last several weeks with the leafy green market. “If anybody tells you they’ve seen this before, they are lying,” said the Coastline Family Farms sales executive with close to five decades of experience. “I’ve never seen anything like this before — not even close.”

Dollar Tree Inc. announced a number of key leadership additions, with Jennifer Bohaty, Terence Goods, Jennifer Silberman and Kristin Tetreault joining the organization as chief compliance officer, chief diversity officer, chief sustainability officer and chief communications officer respectively.

While turkey will be at the center of the Thanksgiving plate for many customers, cranberries remain a holiday staple with, a projected 6.2 million pounds — 100 truckloads — of fresh cranberries to be sold at Kroger stores, according to the company's retail and data science, insights and media arm .

Ocean Mist Farms Brussels sprouts are currently headed into the peak fall crop, just in time to meet shopper demand during the busy holiday season. Known for their Gold Standard Artichokes, Ocean Mist Farms also provides high-quality Brussels sprouts, which are being harvested out of Castroville, CA, through January, and will be coming out of Coachella and Mexico beginning in late-December.

Two days of thought-provoking educational sessions, a sold-out trade show floor and a variety of networking opportunities await attendees of next week’s fifth annual Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, CA. Presented by Western Growers and Organic Produce Network, OGS 2022 will bring together organic growers and supply chain and service companies, providing them with information and education related to the continued growth, opportunities and challenges in the production of organic fresh food.

Growers Supply Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, together with ViviGro Sustainable Solutions announced a strategic partnership under the name Ropana Grower Solutions Ltd. that expands support and supply of quality products and services to agricultural communities throughout the lower mainland and Pacific Northwest.

The New York Apple Association’s new marketing plan focuses on increasing the awareness and sales of New York’s superior tasting apples through trade and consumer programs.

Amid a smaller national apple crop, Cosmic Crisp apples will launch as a year-round variety on Dec. 1 as it grows in volume, especially in organics. Cosmic Crisp is poised for promotion this season and retailers can ensure an organic ring at checkout with Stemilt’s EZ Band.

International produce marketer Thomas C. Tjerandsen of Sonoma, CA, died Nov. 8 after a short illness at the age of 80. He was instrumental in the founding of the Pomegranate Council and had been its executive director since its inception in 1997. He was a leader in the California Agricultural Export Council, focused on several specialty crops.

Church Bros. has named Brian Hunt as its senior vice president of ag operations effective immediately. Hunt has played an integral role in ag operations over the last nine years at Church Bros. and has been the managing partner for C&H Farms, a farming joint venture with Church Bros., for the past eight years. Hunt brings over 20 years of experience in farming and harvest operations, having worked for Tanimura & Antle and multiple farming operations over his career.