Chick Goodman has joined the Coosemans Worldwide team as vice president of sales and marketing, bringing with him more than 20 years of national sales and marketing experience in the produce industry. "We are delighted that we have been able to acquire the person that many consider to be the most talented and knowledgeable fresh-herb expert in the U.S. retail industry," Daniel Coosemans, chief executive officer of Coosemans Worldwide, said in a press release. “We feel having Chick as part of our team will help us grow our retail presence exponentially.” Prior to joining Coosemans, Mr. Goodman

Cool weather around the country has led to an early end to some of the local colored bell pepper deals and is resulting in a strengthening of the market, which could remain hot for quite some time. Mike Aiton, director of marketing for Prime Time Sales LLC, told The Produce News Sept. 22 that the market took a strong turn upward in the last week or so as these local deals saw their supplies dwindle. "It's definitely been good for California," he said. The Coachella, CA-based colored pepper specialist claims to be the largest grower and shipper of the product in the country. The firm markets

Oro Loma Ranch, a grower-packer-shipper of premium pomegranates and arils, has formed a new sales company called Ruby Fresh. With about 4,000 acres of pomegranates, Ruby Fresh is one of the larger pomegranate shippers in the United States. The company, a subsidiary of Oro Loma Ranch, will handle sales of arils and fresh pomegranates, which will be marketed under the "Ruby Fresh" label. “We're very excited about our company,” John Early, export manager for Ruby Fresh, said in a Sept. 22 press release. “In addition to our domestic program, we source Chilean fruit and work with some of the top

City of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, will honor two members of the retail community at its Harvest Celebration Ball Oct. 9 in Portland, OR. Craig Calton, former vice president and general merchandising manger of Walmart, and Scott Campbell, director of business development for Darigold Inc., will be recognized for their business achievements and years of philanthropic service and commitment. Both will receive City of Hope's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award during the ball, which will be held at the Portland

It's a common misconception. Dates are often grouped together with such products as raisins and prunes as common examples of dried fruits. Raisins, of course, are dried grapes, and prunes are dried plums. To make that point clear -- and avoid the negative connotation some consumers have of associating prunes with a geriatric diet -- the California Dried Plum Board (as it is now called) now markets its products not as prunes but as dried plums. But dates are not a dried anything. Dates, as found at the supermarket in whole or pitted form, are a fresh fruit. They are not dehydrated. They have

San Antonio, TX-based Desert Glory Ltd. filed a lawsuit Sept. 20 in a federal court in Tucson, AZ, alleging that a competitor copied packaging it claims to be unique and distinctive. The lawsuit claims trademark infringement and unfair competition by Ag-Mart Produce Inc., a Florida-based distributor of fruits and vegetables doing business as Santa Sweets Inc., with packing and distribution facilities in Nogales, AZ, and elsewhere. Desert Glory's "NatureSweet Cherubs" brand of tomatoes, which are grown in greenhouses from proprietary seeds and vine-ripened, are sold in a bell- shaped package