PHILADELPHIA, PA - After more than 30 years operating as Unifrutti of America, Inc., the Philadelphia, PA-based importer and domestic distributor of fresh produce is revamping its look and undergoing a new name.
Next month, July, the company will be operating under the fresh brand identity Tastyfrutti International, Inc.
“Our mission has always been to add value for our customers and growers through concentrated marketing, product advancement, and innovation,” said Andreas Economou, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the newly-named Tastyfrutti International, Inc., in a press release. “While our name will be changing, our focus on conducting business with integrity and delivering premium products and service will in no way be affected.”
It is a mantra the company has maintained since its 1984 inception, to provide great service, competitive prices, and quality produce.
The complete rebrand will include a refreshed logo in addition to the new name, as well as a new website where more can be learned about the company, its products, and people.
Tastyfrutti International noted that its exporters and domestic growers have, and will continue to, consolidate international food safety requirements, incorporating a program of recorded systematic procedures to grow top-grade fruit in a sustainable way. The company looks to effectively meet U.S. consumer produce demands and maintains stakeholder and customer satisfaction.
Working with North American retailers, wholesalers, foodservices, and brokers, as well as international and domestic growers, AndNowUKnow will continue to follow this company’s newest chapter as Tastyfrutti International, Inc.
MINNETRISTA, MN – As the company supports its expanding operations, Golden Sun Marketing has announced Tom Thompson as its new Vice President for the company.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with such talented and energetic people, who are committed to our clients’ success,” said Tom Thompson. “What drew me to Golden Sun Marketing was its reputation for delivering creative solutions and strategic leadership across the fresh produce supply chain, from seed breeders to consumers and all steps in between. I look forward to supporting our clients address the challenges before them, and driving even more fresh produce consumption.”
Thompson, who is based in Minneapolis, MN, brings 14 years of produce industry experience to the company, most recently at J&J Distributing as the Vice President of Strategy and Business Partnerships. In this position Thompson spearheaded key supply chain programs, and maintained important customer relationships, according to a recent press release.
"Tom brings a very broad background in fresh produce which includes logistics, business development, and category management,” said Don Goodwin, President of Golden Sun Marketing. “His expertise will allow us to provide deeper value to our existing clients, as well as grow our client base."
Thompson began his industry career at C.H. Robinson Worldwide, managing a team who supported Robinson Fresh’s network of branches. In this position, Thompson acquired Robinson Fresh’s grower/shipper network to support categeory management, business development, and key retail account strategies.
Thompson has also worked for the Target Corporation, and managed the debut of Target’s first perishable food distribution center. Thompson also oversaw all vendor and process-related planning.
Stay with AndNowUKnow for your leading announcements on executive hirings and appointments within the fresh produce industry.
POTTSVILLE, PA - Wegmans Food Markets is adding to its team in the distribution center it identifies as integral to the retailer’s moves for growth.
The chain is looking to hire a number of truck drivers and product selectors, both full and part-time, for its Pottsville, PA-based Retail Service Center.
“As we continue to expand our footprint, the RSC will remain a cornerstone of growth and play an integral role in the success of the new stores, as well as our established stores throughout the region,” said Lance Miller, RSC Director of Operations, in a press release.
The RSC is Wegmans’ distribution hub servicing its locations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. It houses a number of products spanning all grocery departments, including:
- Fresh produce
- Dry grocery items
- Meat
- Cheese
- Deli items
- Dairy
While the company didn’t disclose how many drivers and selectors it is looking to hire, it is a step congruent with the new stores the company has underway and plans for further expansion to come.
“It’s certainly an exciting time to be part of Wegmans and the RSC, as there truly is endless opportunity for employees to grow their careers, right alongside the company’s growth," Miller said. "We have multiple paths for career success and give our employees the freedom to explore any career area at any Wegmans location.”
The retailer added in the announcement that it will continue to expand its footprint in the region serviced by the RSC with the addition of two new stores in Virginia and one in Maryland in 2016, and two new stores in New Jersey in 2017, part of the previously announced new locations slated for coming quarters to add to its count of 89 stores spanning six states.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for all the latest moves in the retail and other industry circuits.
From wise advice, to a certain brand of humor that only a dad can embody, families across the nation are gearing up to show the father figures in their lives just how much we appreciate them (suspect jokes and all).
This weekend, as you celebrate the dad in your life, snap a picture and share it with us for the AndNowUKnow Yearbook, Father’s Day edition, as we look to celebrate the names and faces of produce-affiliated fathers.
Post your pictures on Instagram with the #ANUKFathersDay hashtag to have your memorable moments featured as part of our Yearbook next week. Or, send us your dad-themed photos by emailing us directly at [email protected]
So whether it’s a ball game, family picnic, movie night out, or maybe a classic nap, show us how you choose to love your dads, dads that you know, or dads that you’ve loved for this year’s Father’s Day.
SOUTHWEST, USA - As news hits of some late snow to come in the northern parts of California, the southern part of the state, as well as Arizona and New Mexico, will experience one of the initial heat waves of the season this weekend.
"The peak of the heat in many areas will be on Monday, but Sunday and Tuesday will be no slouches either in the high heat department," Ken Clark, Western U.S. Expert at AccuWeather, commented in a recent report. He explained, "When a ridge of high pressure like this one forms in the middle to late June, it can deliver some of the hottest weather possible to the Desert Southwest."
AccuWeather said that temperatures could approach all-time record highs, possibly hitting between 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average through Tuesday.
Among the specific areas affected will be:
- Palm Springs, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Albuquerque, NM
Travel on the streets and in the air could be affected by the weather, Clark said. "Flights could be affected at major airports, including Sky Harbor in Phoenix and McCarran in Las Vegas, as the extreme heat makes it harder for planes to get lift.”
On the road, those traveling at high speeds during the peak heat of the day should use caution because tire blowouts often occur on hot asphalt, with a possible danger of roadways buckling due to heat.
While temperatures will remain warm after Wednesday, the highest heat is predicted to break by middle of next week, with everything balancing out to normal numbers.
MODESTO, CA - Forty-year industry veteran and produce expert David Moen will soon be joining Save Mart as its new Director of Produce, according to sources familiar with the matter, adding that his appointment is effective June 20th. Moen is presumably filling the role left by former produce head for the company, Jim Corby, who had resigned from the position in January this year.
Moen’s produce career started at Albertsons in 1976, where he spent the next 18 years rising in the ranks all the way to Assistant Produce Sales Manager. After stints as Safeway’s Produce Category Manager, Brown & Cole Stores’ Director of Produce Operations, Apio’s Pacific Northwest Regional Sales Manager, and Produce Account Executive for Impact Sales, Inc., Moen ended up at his most recent position with CDS Distributing Inc. as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.
As someone who has now, officially, had his hand in nearly every sector of the produce industry, Moen is more than qualified to head the branch for the Modesto, CA-based Save Mart, who has locations throughout Northern California and Nevada. The company operates under the banners Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky Supermarkets, FoodMaxx, MaxxValue Foods, and the recently announced Lucky California.
We’d like to congratulate Moen on his new journey as Director of Produce at Save Mart, and look forward to seeing the great work to come.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - As the melon season makes the transition from Mexico to California, Country Sweet Produce is positioning itself for the coming summer demand. Commodity Sales Manager Duke Dodder took the time to share with me what the next few weeks look like for the company’s watermelon program.
“Everything is looking good, Mexico is pretty much wrapped up and we are looking at a smooth transition into the California crop,” Duke tells me, adding that demand is spiking a bit as we head into Father’s Day weekend, but that things will gain more momentum as Mother Nature turns up the heat. “People like to eat watermelon when it’s hot out,” Duke says.
With the weather set to kick back up next week, that need should be met just in time for the big 4th of July promotions.
“We are up and running around mid-June, and then out around mid-July, so the 4th of July is a big time for us,” he tells me.
So what edge does Country Sweet’s watermelons offer in-store?
“We hit the right market with our varieties, with great color and quality. With a deep green rind and a nice red flesh, these melons display very well in-store when cut,” Duke advises, adding that the company also has an attractive new watermelon bin available.
With key markets in mind and a good outlook for a steady market, Country Sweet Produce is confident that it is lined up to catch that Independence Day demand.
AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you posted on all the biggest promotion opportunities for fresh produce throughout 2016 and beyond.
HAMMONTON, NJ – As Naturipe Farms begins to harvest blueberries for its New Jersey season, the company’s grower Atlantic Blueberry Company has announced its inside look for the current season.
“This year’s harvest will include primary varieties Duke, Blue Crop, Elliot and Draper, with a few test blocks of new varieties,” explained Art Galletta, President of the Atlantic Blueberry Company’s blueberry operation. “We’re looking forward to the peak of the harvest to be in early July.”
The company said that it expects its production and volume out of New Jersey to be similar to last year’s, according to a recent press release. Atlantic Blueberry Company also recently upgraded its sorting equipment, and refurbished its coolers in preparation for this year’s big season.
“There are many great things on the horizon, from improved varieties, improved machinery, and product development. We focus on providing the consumer with the best possible experience we can. It’s a very exciting and challenging time for the trade, trying to make the right decisions that will help us through the next growth stage of the industry,” continued Galletta.
Naturipe is honoring its family of farmers and their respective growing areas by featuring a new locally grown package design on the blueberries, which clearly show which state they were grown in.
New Jersey soil is ideal for growing the berry, said Atlantic Blueberry Company, and its climate provides the right amount of dormancy. The company stated that blueberries were first cultivated on the state’s soil with pioneer Elizabeth White in 1916.
The Atlantic Blueberry Company was established in 1935 and is fully owned by the Galletta family. The operation upholds what it means to a be a local family farm, and also reaches beyond the local community. Galletta noted that the farm operates with second, third, and now fourth generation Galletta grandchildren to work on the farm.
“We were taught to always get along with each other and to work hard. With this, good things happen,” said Galletta.
Duke Galletta, Art’s father, was honored by the USDA when the organization named the “Duke” blueberry variety after him because of his dedication towards the breeding program. Duke worked closely with the USDA to grow and evaluate the test trials of many varieties which the USDA bred.
“We love growing New Jersey blueberries and continuing our family traditions by being good stewards of the land, growing a nutritious food that is beautiful and delicious, and supporting our employee families and the community,” finished Galletta.
Naturipe also represents domestic growers from Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia during this season.
SINT-KATELIJNE-WAVER, BELGIUM – As the company continues to invest in its Northeast U.S. operations, Greenyard Foods announced plans for a new state-of-the-art packing and cold storage facility to be located in Swedesboro, NJ.
“This expansion is in line with Greenyard Foods’ focus to grow in the U.S. market, as part of the Fresh division’s growth plans,” said Marleen Vaesen, CEO of Greenyard Foods. “It underlines our commitment to invest in our fresh operations, our people and ultimately our mission to grow consumption of fruits and vegetables for a healthier future.”
The company stated in a press release that the new facility will increase its overall volume and production capability, which will in turn quadruple its current operational square footage and capacity.
This expansion will be Greenyard Foods’ first following its merger with UNIVEG in June of last year. After the facility’s build is complete, Greenyard Foods member UNIVEG Logistics America (ULA) will change to Greenyard Logistics America.
“As part of our strategic plan, the expansion of our Northeast operations not only substantially increases our production capacity but further underscores our commitment to our customers and growers,” said Mayda Sotomayor, President of ULA. “Expanding our facility has been in our plans for quite some time as our current facility has been a challenge for our continued growth. We couldn’t be more excited to finally move forward with the plans.”
The expansion will also increase services for value-added packing, consolidation, controlled atmosphere storage, and service-providing opportunities. The company stated that the facility will be a central matching point for growers and retailers, and is located in a strategic position for imported produce which is close to the Northeastern ports of New Jersey.
Seald Sweet, a member of the Greenyard Foods group and sister company to ULA, also intends to relocate its imports production operations and Northeastern sales offices to the new facility in a strategic move towards operation integration.
Greenyard Foods expects construction to begin in July of this year, with plans currently slating the facility to open in February 2017. The company said that even further growth and developments are planned for the new facility.
Stay with AndNowUKnow as we continue to update you on this and other facility expansions within the industry.
CASTROVILLE, CA - Ocean Mist Farms has announced that it is currently harvesting its popular Kalettes® just in time for summer cooking holidays and events.
With significant volumes, the company expressed confidence for what’s to come.
“We have a great crop now and we are excited to be able to meet customer demand,” commented Diana McClean, Director of Marketing, according to a press release.
Ocean Mist Farms introduced Kalettes® in 2014, a blend of nutrient-packed Brussels sprouts and “superfood” kale, as a new veggie option to the climbing consumption of healthy, tasty greens.
One of the first new vegetables to come to the world of produce in upwards of ten years, Ocean Mist added Kalettes® to its award-winning Season & Steam microwavable bag last year after positive reception, as we have reported previously. The Season & Steam line is an exclusive offering that provides highly-sought-after convenience to consumers.
According to the company, each “kale sprout” is gently harvested by hand, varying in size due to how they are grown on the plant stalk, and are a colorful purple and green combination. They are versatile and easy for consumers to prepare, just in time for summer parties.
In addition to being offered in its Season and Steam microwaveable bag, Ocean Mist Farms is currently shipping Kalettes® in bulk. To find at more, click here.
AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you up to date on all the latest produce information as we head into the summer months.