Page 83 - Roduce Editorials News Today

The severe mix of heat, rain and Tropical Storm Kay were merciless to the California growing fields during the end of summer. The strawberry crop was especially impacted with flooding and wind damage.

Tanimura & Antle promoted two key sales team members. Anthony Mazzuca has been promoted to vice president of sales strategy and Steve Souza will now serve as director of product management.  Both promotions come as the next step in the company’s succession planning and as a result of both individuals’ years of service, industry expertise and contributions to the company.   

Chelsea Consalo has been elected the new vice president of Spirit & Truth Ministries/Vineland Soup Kitchen, which works with the community and local churches to provide hot nutritious lunches to the low income and homeless population in the surrounding community. “As Chelsea is a respected member of the surrounding community and with her background in her family business, we felt this is just what Spirit & Truth Ministries needed for our organization to lead us to a new level of servin...

Equitable Food Initiative announced a two-year, $2 million grant from the Walmart Foundation to support implementation of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. For this project, EFI is partnering with The Sustainability Consortium to help growers and suppliers strengthen the management systems they need to uphold the principles of the Ethical Charter.

Giorgio Fresh Co. has hired Bryan Shelton as its vice president of sales and marketing. Shelton will be responsible for sales team leadership, marketing and business strategy. Shelton is a well-known CPG industry leader, bringing over 20 years of experience to the packaged food arena, leading sales teams at Kellogg and Pinnacle Foods and Del Monte Foods Inc.

Mann Packing Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce, is investing heavily in its leading snap pea program as it further commits to being a leader in the space. The vegetable division of Fresh Del Monte has upgraded its program by acquiring two optical sorters dedicated solely to snap peas, totaling a $2.5 million investment, and is also exploring additional sourcing options in Guatemala and Peru that are within Fresh Del Monte’s global network.

In many ways, Jeff Oberman has been in training his entire career for the California Avocado Commission presidency slot that he just secured.  He was hired earlier this month after close to a year-long search and starts his new position today.

At its Fall Recognition Event held on Friday, Oct. 7, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California posthumously awarded Dennis Caprara with the E.E (Gene) Harden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to an individual who’s made an extraordinary contribution and created a lasting legacy benefitting Central Coast agriculture. The award was presented to Caprara’s wife, Janice, and the Caprara family.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on two 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. The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

Online grocery shopping was always a major convenience for shoppers. That convenience almost turned into necessity when COVID-19 reared its ugly head. As the pandemic wanes so too is online grocery shopping. As a result, retailers should start to pay more attention to improving shoppers' in-store experience. According to new research from ChaseDesign, buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS), curbside pick-up and delivery of digital orders continue to shrink as retailers return to investing in pr...