Produce

More than 45 staff in five departments participated in a custom training session led by the United States Department of Agriculture at Ocean Mist Farms’ headquarters in Castroville, Calif., recently. …

Potandon Produce is stepping up to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and make a donation to the ALS Association. Steve Ottum, COO at Potandon threw down the gauntlet, taking the challenge and issuing a challenge of his own, offering to donate for every employee who took the icy bath. Employees were then encouraged to nominate individuals and companies within the produce industry to get involved, take the challenge and donate to the ALS Association. …

More than 70% of U.S. households consume bagged/packaged salads. Considering the hectic pace of the average American's daily routine, reliance on the convenience and variety offered by bagged salads and other types of ready-to-eat vegetables and fruit will be a key factor spurring the U.S. market for these products from $5.5 billion in 2013 to $7 billion by 2018, according to Branded Packaged Produce and Salads: U.S. Market Trends, a recent report by market research publisher Packaged Facts. …

The Produce Mom appeared on the Indy Style program on WISH-TV 8 in Indianapolis Thursday to promote the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools Initiative. With the goal of getting a salad bar in every school in the United States, this program founded by the United Fresh Produce Association supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative. …

A six-week pilot test of a Michigan-made vacuum harvest aid last fall, showed significant promise in several areas, according to Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc., and the company has plans to expand its use of the equipment again this fall. …