Produce

Produce for Kids is excited to announce a new partnership with The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ for its third annual Healthy Families, Helping Kids campaign this fall. The campaign, running in all Meijer stores and Publix Super Markets this September and October, will raise funds to support local children’s charities. The partnership was brokered on behalf of the World of Eric Carle by its worldwide licensing agent, the Joester Loria Group (JLG). …

The National Mango Board (NMB) is moving forward with its Ripe and Ready to Eat Mango Program (RRTEMP), a program aimed to provide U.S. consumers with a quality fruit that is ripe and ready to eat by the time of purchase. The NMB has done extensive research that shows that ripe fruit has higher acceptance rates within consumers. …

The United States Potato Board (USPB) is pleased to announce Amy Burdett has joined its staff as Marketing Operations Director in the Denver office. She started her new role in the USPB Marketing Department July 28, 2014. …

With harvest currently underway, representatives of the Northwest pear industry have officially updated their initial projections for the 2014 fresh pear crop yield.  Reports of a crop of excellent quality have been confirmed from all corners of the pear growing regions in Washington and Oregon, and the updated projection is showing a crop larger than previously forecast in the spring. …

Tozer Seeds announced that it has entered into exclusive marketing agreements with six companies to grow and market Kalettes™, the kale and brussels sprouts hybrid. The companies who have entered into the marketing agreement with Tozer for Kalettes are: 4Earth Farms, Classic Salads, Mann Packing, Ocean Mist Farms, Southern Specialties and WP Rawl.  As part of the agreement, Kalettes seeds will be sold by Johnny’s Select Seeds to small farmers and home growers. …