Wolcott, NY-based Fowler Farms, a grower-shipper of fresh apples, has appointed Mark Sharp as its new director of business development. Mr. Sharp has brought to the company his 30 years of experience in both retail and foodservice including stints with Dole Fresh Fruit and ConAgra. He also previously has served on the Produce Marketing Association's foodservice advisory board. "I am excited to be joining the Fowler team," Mr. Sharp said in an Aug. 31 press release. “As long as I can remember, Fowler Farms has been on the forefront of the apple industry both in New York and nationally. I am

Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. is supporting its sales program this fall with multiple promotions. Beginning Oct. 10, shoppers will save 55 cents when they buy any two packages of Mann's core vegetable items such as "Broccoli Wokly," broccoli and cauliflower, or vegetable medley. Last year, the redemption rate for a similar promotional offer was more than 15 percent. Also in October, Mann will offer a Festive Fall Savings on-pack promotion offering an instantly redeemable coupon for 55 cents with the purchase of one of Mann’s sweet potato or Butternut squash products. “We know shoppers

Kevin Moffitt, president and chief executive officer of the Pear Bureau Northwest in Milwaukie, OR, does not anticipate that rainy conditions in Oregon will create any undue delays in harvesting of the state's pear crop. "The recent rain may cause some delay, maybe one day," he told The Produce News Aug. 31. “When we did our first crop forecast in June, there was talk then that the harvest would be delayed,” he said. Spring conditions during the growing season were cooler than normal and wet, and Mr. Moffitt said that pollination was affected. As a result, harvest timetables were expected to

HOCKESSIN, DE -- The Produce for Better Health Foundation is applauds the launch of the Lunchbox Winners Produce Program by Safeway Inc., one of the nation's larger supermarket chains. The program will be featured in 1,523 stores across the nation. The goal of the new program is to offer parents an easy solution for school lunches and snack ideas that are better for kids and easy for parents. The inspiration for the program came from Safeway's desire to support the Fruits & Veggies- More Matters Program and first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign to help raise a generation of active

WASHINGTON — The timing could not be better for the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference. Congress will be making decisions on childhood nutrition and food safety bills when United Fresh holds its conference, here, Sept. 14-16. Food-safety legislation may reach the Senate floor when Congress returns from its summer break Sept. 13, and the House of Representatives will be rushing to complete action on a childhood nutrition bill before the program expires Sept. 30, Robert Guenther, United Fresh’s senior vice president of government relations, said during an Aug

The crunch of Jazz apples has been heard across the continent this summer, loudest of all in Dallas and Portland, OR. Throughout August, street teams driving Jazz apple-themed sport-utility vehicles engaged with consumers at more than 60 events staged in retail outlets, parks and other venues. As shoppers stocked up for the last picnics of the season and prepared to pack the first back-to-school lunches, Jazz apples proved an irresistible temptation, according to David Nelley, apple and pear category director for the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group. "Apples from New Zealand are fresh