Los Angeles-based Gourmet Trading Co. has acquired one of California's larger blueberry operations, including substantial plantings and packing capacity. The purchase moves Gourmet Trading closer to being one of the larger growers, packers and shippers of fresh blueberries in California. Chris Martin, president and chief executive officer of Gourmet Trading, said that the company sees its acquisition of the blueberry operation as key to its ongoing growth in the blueberry market. "Gourmet Blueberry California, being planted with superior varieties, will not only yield the best-tasting

CLOVIS, CA -- "Ballantine Produce Co. Inc. [in Reedley, CA] and P-R Farms Inc. [here] are pleased to announce a strategic arrangement whereby, beginning with the current growing season, Ballantine will manage the farming and be responsible for the packing and marketing of P-R Farms' stone fruit," stated a press release issued jointly April 17 by the two companies. "The implementation of this plant allows P-R Farms, under the management of Patrick V. Ricchiuti and [his] son, Vincent Ricchiuti, to strengthen its position as a leading producer of almonds. This agreement will also enable expansion

WASHINGTON -- On the eve of its first Las Vegas trade show in 20 years, the United Fresh Produce Association, headquartered here, said that it plans to return to Las Vegas for its 2009 annual trade show and will continue expanding its reach to foodservice buyers and focus on produce innovations. United Fresh 2009 will be located at the Sands Expo Center and the Venetian Hotel, headquarters for the April 22-24, 2009, event. The Food Marketing Institute partnership has benefited the trade show for five years, but now United can continue expanding its foodservice and other marketing channels

As a kickoff to this year's Sonora grape season, growers, shippers, distributors, retailers, foodservice buyers and others involved in the production and marketing of Mexican table grapes gathered in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, in the heart of one of the state's major grape-growing areas, for the industry's second annual Sonora Spring Summit. The event is hosted by the Asociacion Agricola Local de Productores Uva de Mesa, the local association of table grape growers in Sonora, commonly known by its Spanish acronym AALPUM. Nearly 16 million boxes of fresh table grapes were grown in the state of

Sidney Feinstein, a veteran of supermarket retailing for more than half a century and best known for his long tenure at Kings Super Markets, died Sunday, April 20, at Boca Raton Community Hospital in Boca Raton, FL. He was 86 years old and a resident of Boca Raton. The cause of death was congestive heart failure, according to his son Norman Feinstein. Sid Feinstein was born Aug. 11, 1921 in the Boston area and was raised in the nearby communities of Dorchester and Chelsea. He got his start in the produce industry working for his father, who had a chain of fruit and vegetable stores in the

Kicking off the prime California avocado season with a bang, the California Avocado Commission is supplementing its recently announced advertising campaign with promotional activities in support of Cinco de Mayo, the celebration in which guacamole and other avocado dishes are as ubiquitous as turkey is for Thanksgiving. The commission's promotion plans include public relations outreach featuring celebrity chefs, an extensive on-line campaign and strong in-store merchandising support. "Cinco de Mayo is the second-biggest avocado consumption occasion of the year, with nearly 54 million pounds of