Terrence (Tip) Murphy, a veteran of some of the more visible produce operations in the country, including Chiquita Brands International and Ready Pac Foods, died Sunday, July 13, after suffering a heart attack while playing golf with his friends. He was 48. Most recently, Mr. Murphy worked at Ready Pac Foods, where for the past 16 months he served as its Eastern division vice president of retail sales. "I have known Tip for 15 years and worked closely with him at Chiquita and Ready Pac," said Mike Celani, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac, an

According to Matt McLean, founder and chief executive officer of Uncle Matt's Fresh, the organic produce arm of Uncle Matt's Organic, the number of organic citrus growers and the amount of acreage dedicated to organic citrus that the company manages are rising at a steady and healthy pace. "We currently manage over 1,000 acres of citrus groves that include 15 different family-owned farms," Mr. McLean said in a press release. "This number is expanding every day as we help conventional groves transition to organic." As a vertically integrated grower, manager and marketer of organic citrus, Uncle

Bozzuto's Inc., the wholesale supplier to 700 supermarket retailers in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, will hold its Supplier Appreciation Golf Tournament & Spa Retreat Monday, Aug. 10, in conjunction with its August trade show at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Ledyard, CT. The golf tournament will be held at Lake of Isles, adjacent to the casino. "Our suppliers have really supported our initiatives and programs throughout our fiscal year. We truly value the relationships we have and feel that it is important recognize all of the individuals and companies that have been instrumental in

Gourmet Mushrooms Inc. in Sebastopol, CA, grower of the "Mycopia" brand of organic specialty mushrooms, has concluded agreements with two other Pacific Coast growers and now offers an all-organic program to its customers. Gourmet Mushrooms' five varieties of specialty mushrooms are now complemented by organically grown Shiitake and Maitake. The company's own varieties have been certified-organic since 2003. Bob Engel, director of marketing, believes that customers are becoming familiar with and demanding a wider range of organic varieties. "Importers go to the Amazon forest to search out

Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, has promoted Darren Thornberry to vice president of strategic planning and analysis. He will have the overall responsibility for the firm's planning practices, including strategic business planning, supply chain analysis, financial performance analysis and capital budgeting. Mr. Thornberry came to Sun World in 2006 as a senior operations analyst and most recently functioned as the director of strategic planning. Prior to his employment with Sun World, Mr. Thornberry worked as an independent consultant providing business planning services. In

A Fort Pierce, FL, entrepreneur has brought the Coquimba gourmet banana to Florida. "We feel it is only fitting to bring another world-class flavor leader to Florida," Jose Ubilla, owner of Real Stone & Granite and now co-owner of the Coquimba gourmet banana, said in a press release. "Our fresh Coquimba bananas initially will only be available for Florida residents. However, we are in active discussions with produce distributors in California and other locations throughout the United States as word gets out on this new gourmet product." The Coquimba banana gets its gourmet distinction based on