Produce

The winners of the first Mango Mania Display Contest have been announced by the National Mango Board (NMB). Participating stores competed for $10,000 in prizes and reported a collective 1095% increase in mango volume compared to the same period in 2010. The contest was open to retailers with up to 50 stores. …

Ayco Farms, the leader in Personal Watermelons Production and Sales, has been ranked, by Inc. Magazine, as number 4,503 on the list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. The 2011 list is compiled and ranked according to growth by percentage revenue from 2007-2010, Ayco had a growth rate of over 18%. …

NatureSweet Ltd, North America’s largest grower of greenhouse tomatoes, is transforming its cherry tomato packaging while keeping the company’s commitment to provide the best tasting cherry tomatoes, year round. The new package, which is developed in close collaboration with Direct Pack, Inc. Calif., offers enhanced product visibility, better protection, improved merchandising and an extended shelf life, compared to the current packaging. …

As the government continues to roll out its new “My Plate” initiative, which encourages every American to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables at every meal, My Fruity Faces aims to help parents meet this new standard. My Fruity Faces are all natural, flavored, edible stickers that parents and kids can put on fruits and vegetables to make faces and designs. The stickers allow kids to show their creative flair and have fun with their food. …

Apparently, Dole packaged salad enthusiasts know best. The Spinach Cherry Almond Bleu All Natural DOLE Salad Kit they selected during focus groups and other research to be launched this year as one of Doles three new packaged salad products for 2011 has been designated Health Magazines 2011 Healthy Food Awards winner for Best Salad Kit. …