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SUNSWEET’S MESSAGE: #TOFEELGOOD
Sunsweet Growers Inc., Yuba City, CA, has launched a new brand campaign, #ToFeelGood, that it says reflects the zest for life shared by consumers of Sunsweet Amaz!n Prunes. “We want to encourage people to appreciate the steps they are already taking to feel good in their everyday lives and to share those tips so that others may be inspired to do the same,” says Stephanie Harralson, director of marketing for North America. Sunsweet is working in conjunction
with advertising agency, BARKER, and communications agency, Ketchum Inc., to promote #ToFeelGood. The integrated campaign includes social media influencers, as well as professional beach volleyball player, Kerri Walsh Jennings, who will be providing their own tips #ToFeelGood.
ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
LOVE BEETS’ NEW BEET-O DE GALLO
CAPTURES NEXTY AWARD
Love Beets, Bala Cynwyd, PA, earned a
NEXTY Award for its Golden Beet-o de
Gallo in the “Best New Savory or Salty
Snack” category at Natural Products
Expo West. Love Beets Golden Beet-o
de Gallo is a twist on fresh salsa that
combines diced golden beets with green peppers, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and spices. “Our golden beet items have enabled us to appeal to an even greater number of people,” says George Shropshire, General Manager of Love Beets USA.
ANNOUNCEMENT
HENRY AVOCADO ISSUES RECALL
Henry Avocado Corporation,
Escondido, CA, voluntarily
recalled California-grown
whole avocados sold in bulk
at retail stores because of the
potential of Listeria mono-
cytogenes contamination. Henry Avocado issued the recall because of positive test results on environ- mental samples taken during a routine government inspection at its California packing facility. There were no reported illnesses associated with this recall at the time of publication.
ANNOUNCEMENT
TOP RETAILERS ON BOARD FOR
NEPC ORGANIC ROUNDTABLE
Brian Fleming (Stop & Shop
Supermarket), Kevin Barry (Big Y
Foods) and Mark Jewell (Hannaford
Bros. Supermarket) will speak at the
retailer roundtable on May 1 at the
New England Organic Produce Conference being held at Gillette Stadium, hosted by The New England Produce Council and the Organic Produce Network (OPN). Matt Seeley (OPN) and Mark DeMichaelis (Olivia’s Organics/State Garden) will co-moderate.
ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
USDA MAKES APPOINTMENTS
TO U.S. HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY
COUNCIL, POTATO BOARD
The USDA named its seven members and 10 alternates to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. The members
are: R. Verne Ginger- sich, West Linn, OR (Western); Shelly Hart- mann, South Haven, MI
(Midwest); David Arena, Hammonton, NJ (Northeast); Ryan Atwood, Umatilla, FL (Southern); John John- ston, Salinas, CA (Importer); Jorge Varela, Santiago, Chile (Exporter); Amy Howell, Egg Harbor City, NJ (Public). Alternates include: Ellie Norris, Roseburg, OR (Western); Patricia A. Goin, North Judson, IN (Midwest); Art Galletta, Hammonton, NJ (Northeast); Stacy Spivey, Soperton, Ga. (Southern); Bonnie Lundblad, Medford, NJ (Importer); Carolos Abujatum, Provincia Linares, Chile (Exporter); William Cline, Wilmington, NC (Public). Alternates appointed to fill vacancies with terms ending Dec. 31 are: C. Jerome Crosby, Willacoochee, Ga. (Georgia Producer); Paul J. Macrie III, Hammonton, N.J. (New Jersey Producer); Jesse Brar, British Columbia (Exporter).
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue also appointed members to the National Potato Promotion Board. Each representative will serve a three-year term:
California: Nathan Bender, Ed Staunton; Colorado: William Alderete, Bevan Lenz, Jason Tillman. Idaho: Tyson Funk, Taylor Grant, Braden Lake,
Rick Miller, Adam Nielsen, Jan VanOrden, Tanner Whalen. Massachusetts: Colin Szawlowski. Maine: Ryan Crane. Michigan: Jason Walther. Nebraska: Ben Zechman. North Dakota: Leah Halverson. Oregon: Luke Robison. Washington: Daniel Gundersen, Rod Schutte, Samueal Stahl, Marvin Wollman. West Virginia: Jon Gay.
ANNOUNCEMENT
PRODUCE FOR KIDS RAISED $278,000
IN 2018 FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN
During its annual reception at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure in Orlando, FL, Produce for Kids announced its marketing campaigns had raised $278,000 in 2018 and
$6.7 million since its inception. Large checks
were presented for each 2018 retail and Power
Your Lunchbox campaign, which included three divisions of Associated Wholesale Grocers, Military Produce Group, Meijer Food Stores and Publix Super Markets. The event was attended by more than
200 and featured a “What’s Your Cause?” theme, promoting the group’s industry push to better understand the need and value of cause-marketing campaigns. For each photo taken at the Produce
for Kids booth on the trade show floor and each “share” on social media, the group donated one meal to Feeding America.
INNOVATION AWARDS, WOMEN IN PRODUCE SPOTLIGHTED AT UNITED FRESH EXPO
The application period is now open for 2019 United Fresh Innovation Awards. Companies are encouraged to submit their products (unitedfreshshow.org) and solutions in seven catego- ries, including Best New Packaging, Best New Food Safety Solution, Best New Packaging/ Processing Equipment, Best New Fruit Product, Best New Vegetable Product, Best New Indoor Growing Technology, Best New Field Technology. The deadline is April 15. The awards will be announced at United Fresh 2019, June 10-12 in Chicago, which also will feature a new twist on
its breakfast event. Women in Produce will be the signature program at the Breakfast General Session on June 12. “Elevating the celebration to a breakfast general session shines a brighter light on the contribu- tions from all women in our industry as the focus of this gathering,” says Tom Stenzel, chief executive.
ANNOUNCEMENT
• Baryn Hagood-Lund, Safeway Inc., Everett, WA
• Heather Hudgins, MOM’s Organic Markets, Whitemarsh, MD • Edward Jette, Big Y Foods, Easton, MA
• Jason Karaffa, Albrecht’s Sentry Foods, Delafield, WI
• Robin Manwaring, Tops Friendly Markets, Pulaski, NY
• Greg Miller, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Chico, CA
• Michael Rowe, Brookshire’s Grocery Company,Bridgeport, TX • David Scarlett, Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, Knoxville, TN
• Martin Sevensky, Weis Markets, Inc., Clarks Summit, PA
• Michael Sockett, Gelson’s Markets,Valley Village, CA
• Jimmy Strickland, Harris Teeter, Fayetteville, NC
• Charles Tavacol, Giant Foods, McLean, VA
• Roman Teig, Hy-Vee, Inc., Omaha, NE
• Jason Thompson, Hollywood Markets, Madison Heights, MI
• David Thompson, The Kroger Company, Peachtree City, GA
• Brittany Woodall, Fred Meyer, Bellevue, WA
UNITED FRESH NAMES 25 RETAIL
PRODUCE MANAGER AWARD WINNERS
The United Fresh Produce Association, Washington, DC, has chosen the 25 recipients of its annual Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. The produce managers represent supermarket banners, commissaries and independent retail stores from 16 different states and two Canadian provinces. They are:
• Vincente Aguirre, Fort Bliss Commissary, El Paso, TX;
• Gregory Barnufsky Jr., Yokes Fresh Markets, Spokane, WA • Mike Burdi, Metro Ontario Inc., Toronto
• Jerry Clark II, The Fresh Market, Roanoke, VA
• Cassandra Crone, North State Grocery, Inc., Auburn, CA
• Bobby David, Audubon Market, St. Francisville, LA
• William Denault, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Lenox, MA • Elaine Fong, Calgary Co-op, Calgary, AB, Canada
Produce & Floral Watch are regular features of Produce Business. Please send information on new products, personnel changes, industry, corporate and personal milestones and available literature, along with a high resolution image to: Managing Editor, Produce Business, P.O. Box 810425, Boca Raton, FL 33481-0425 or email us at info@producebusiness.com
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