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Bonipak names Scott Cruciger as its CEO

The Bonipak Family of Cos. named Scott Cruciger as its new CEO. Cruciger brings over 20 years of experience in the ingredients industry across food & beverage, industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural markets. He has held leadership roles in multiple business sectors including operations, supply chain, commercial and strategic management. "I am honored to join Bonipak and lead this incredible organization," said Cruciger. "I look forward to building on the strong foundation established and working with the talented team to drive continued innovation and growth." “As a family-owned company

Market Minute: Promote tomatoes to greatly boost sales

The tomato category is one of the top sales volume contributors in the produce department. Tomato sales for a 52-week period were a whopping $4.8 billion. That’s a whole lot of sales the category provided for retailers. Conventional tomatoes generated $4.5 billion with organic tomatoes at $325 million. The round tomato market is steady out of Mexico. Florida is starting to increase production. A steady supply of on-the-vine tomatoes is available out of Canada. Quality of all tomatoes is excellent. Snacking tomatoes have increased in consumer popularity and have become top sellers in the

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Continental Fresh expands Water For All clean-water efforts ahead of annual trek

The leadership behind Continental Fresh has long believed that fresh produce can — and should — do more than feed people. It can improve lives. That philosophy sits at the center of the company’s Water For All initiative, which directs a portion of proceeds from every labeled box of mangos to fund clean-water and sanitation projects in rural Latin America. For retailers and consumers, it provides a simple way to make a tangible impact, and for the Miami-based importer, it has become a defining part of its brand identity.

Lipman puts fresh-cut front and center

Lipman Family Farms is spotlighting its expanding fresh-cut capabilities at New York Produce Show and Conference. Attendees can find its conveniently cut and packaged produce solutions at booth No. 416, Dec. 2-4 at the Javits Center. Lipman is attending the three-day event to celebrate the depth of its fresh-cut lineup and connect with its Northeast partners. From fajita and bruschetta mixes to salsa, Bell peppers, onions and more, Lipman’s fresh-cut products are processed at the peak of flavor and innovatively packed to maximize food safety and shelf life. Since its 2023 acquisition of

2025 was a year of growth for Ben B. Schwartz & Sons

It was a big year for Ben B. Schwartz & Sons, a long-time trusted name on the Michigan Produce Terminal.
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A steady consumer demand for broccoli has led growers to offer the commodity in a number of forms and packages.

Maggie Bezart, vice president of marketing for Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms, said that the company has a "conservative increase? in broccoli acreage in Coachella, CA, this winter.

?There?s a higher demand on crowns," Ms. Bezart said. As a result, Ocean Mist is striving to increase its yields. More of Ocean Mist?s size 18 packs are going to shrink wrap to meet consumer demand, she said.

?We see more crowns going to foodservice," Ms. Bezart added. "There?s an increased demand in Canada in bunches and foodservice."

Broccoli consumption continues to grow on a per-capita basis, Ms. Bezart said.

Broccoli increasingly has found its way into value-added products through Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. and other companies. Broccoli salad blends find broccoli florets being paired with cauliflower florets. Carrots and cabbage also are used with broccoli blends.

California and Yuma, AZ, grow the vast majority of broccoli in the United States. In California, the Salinas, Santa Maria and San Joaquin valleys lead the way.

Tom Russell, president of Salinas, CA-based Pacific International Marketing Inc., said that his company has experienced strong, steady growth in broccoli sales. "Every year we sell more broccoli," Mr. Russell said. "Five years ago, our desert broccoli deal was at 500 acres. Now it's at 2,600 acres."

Between various labels and packs, PIM has 49 broccoli items; five years ago, the company only carried 14s, 18s and crowns, Mr. Russell said.

PIM has experienced strong growth selling party trays to processors, Mr. Russell said. There?s a strong demand from processors during the holidays and occasions such as the Super Bowl, Mr. Russell said.

PIM also has five lines of iceless broccoli cuts. "We?re doing iceless in all varieties " regular iceless for the domestic market," said Mr. Russell.

PIM grows broccoli at six locations in the desert, including Yuma, AZ. A typical yield per acre in the desert is 600-700 cartons. With rents for Yuma farmland hovering around $600 per acre, PIM has spread its harvest around, Mr. Russell said.

High yields are hard to come by in the desert in December, Mr. Russell said, but they pick up in January and February when the market drops.

The company hasn?t grown its organic broccoli category as fast. Two years ago, PIM grew more organic broccoli than today. Still, the category is up 50 percent from three years ago, Mr. Russell said.

Tim Tomasello, broccoli commodity manager for Mann Packing Co., said that the winter desert deal has gone well for broccoli despite heavier-than-normal rainfall. As of Jan. 17, the U.S. market f.o.b. price was $6 on bunch and $7-7.50 on crowns.

Broccoli withstands rainfall pretty well, Mr. Tomasello said, adding that warm rains speed up the harvest, while cool rains slow it down a little.

Mann?s desert broccoli plantings are up at least 5 percent, Mr. Tomasello said. "We continue to see a trend between value-added retail and foodservice."

Both broccoli and Mann Packing " one of the larger broccoli shippers in the world " have gotten a boost from the book Superfoods RX: Fourteen Foods that Will Change Your Life. The book?s co-author, Dr. Steven Pratt, appeared in Mann Packing Co."s booth at the Produce Marketing Association?s Fresh Summit in October in Anaheim. Dr. Pratt signed complimentary copies of his national bestseller and answered questions from attendees.

Dr. Pratt?s appearance confirmed the positive effects of healthy eating, Mr. Tomasello said. Mann Packing is the most recommended vegetable brand in Dr. Pratt?s book, appearing numerous times in the book?s recommended shopping list. Dr. Pratt has been quoted as complimenting Mann for its fresh-cut and ready-to-eat broccoli.

Crowns, florets, spears and value-added products have gained in popularity at Mann.

Throughout 2004, Mann launched national in-store recipe distribution programs, on-line promotions via the company?s web site (www.broccoli.com) and the SuperFoods Rx web site (www.superfoodsrx.com), and a direct mail campaign to Mann?s consumer database and in select markets.

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