Produce

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) 44th Produce Convention and Golf Tournament was held November 8 – 10 in Nogales, Arizona, home to the largest port of entry for fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico and to a wide array of companies involved in distributing fresh produce across North America. …

Retailers are taking home prizes after competing in the California Avocado Commission’s 2012 Hand Grown in California Avocado advertising contest. CAC announced the winners of its 2012 retail ad contest, which ran during the peak of California avocado season from the week of May 15 through the week of September 12, and was designed to reward participating retailers for both the number of California ads and the California branding used in their avocado ads. Sprouts Farmers Markets took home a $1,500 value grand prize package of a Canon Eos Rebel T4i and additional prizes. …

Citrus America, Inc. and its cooperating partners have been seeing great results with the CITROCASA 8000SB-ATS in the grocery and contract catering segment. The 8000 Series, juicing at 40 fruit per minute, represents one of the fastest and most durable on-demand, on-location juicers available worldwide and the new, industry-unique, ATS function makes it even more efficient and easy to operate. …

The National Mango Board (NMB) will host a virtual industry outreach meeting via webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 4 p.m. (EST). During the webinar, NMB staff will provide mango industry members with updated 2012 program results, as well as a glimpse of 2013 programs. Participation in this web-based virtual meeting is free and registration for the event is quick and easy. …

Double-digit growth from perishables departments is helping fuel store brand momentum, with fresh produce ranking in the top 10 mega categories to experience store brand dollar volume growth. For the year ending August 4, 2012, store brand sales for all outlets and all departments reached a whopping $107.5 billion – an increase of 5.1 percent versus year ago. …