Produce

John Vena, Inc. is pleased to announce the newest addition to its team. James Collins will take on the new position of Packing Room Supervisor. This is a new role created to facilitate the growing needs of our customers and trading partners. James will be in charge of all Packing Room processes. …

Agricultural Research Service plant physiologist Gene Lester and colleagues measured the beta-carotene concentrations in orange-fleshed honeydew and cantaloupe melons grown under the same greenhouse conditions. The team found that orange-fleshed honeydew had significantly higher beta-carotene concentrations than cantaloupe, but the two melon types had similar beta-carotene bioaccessibilities. This means that both melons appear to be comparable sources of dietary provitamin A for humans, on par with carrots, which are known to be a major source of provitamin A. …

Meet Tsamma.  An invigorating watermelon juice beverage.  Tsamma is the name of a hardy melon grown in the Kalahari Desert of Southern Africa, thought to be the mother ancestral variety of all melons. …

They’re back! Stemilt will kick off the second season of its premium cherry program, Kyle’s Pick®, this week in Washington State, about a week ahead of last season’s timing. The company reserves the best cherries – premium varieties, largest sizes, and dessert flavors – for Kyle’s Pick pouch bags in July and August to help retailers differentiate premium quality and most importantly, win over consumers, who traditionally buy cherries on impulse. …

Authentic Hatch Chiles are back in season from August through September, and Frieda’s Inc. has guaranteed volume and good supply. Frieda’s team also has the expertise to assist retailers in a Hatch Chile roasting program. …