As Oppy continues to look for increased efficiencies and powerful partnerships across its operations, the leading grower has brought together two top cherry brands, Katicich Ranch and Brookside, to form Katco Packing.
 
Katco Packing, located in Stockton, CA, will realize numerous operational efficiencies, particularly in packing, with state-of-the-art Unitec optical sorting machinery bringing increased accuracy and speed to their boutique brands. As a leading grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce from around the world, Oppy will take on a strategic role in the new venture, where

Each year, billions of produce items move from grower to retailer to consumer. While each member of the supply chain makes a conscious effort to improve sustainable practices – from land use to packing efficiencies to food waste reduction – there is no uniform solution for reusing or recycling the small but essential produce tag or twist tie.

In Tops’ ongoing quest to be as sustainable at every turn as possible, it recently partnered with TagBack by Bedford, a Minnesota-based company, that recycles produce tags and ties and upcycles them into other useable products. Customers can simply

Living Greens Farm, one of the largest vertical, indoor aeroponic farms in the U.S. that provides year-round fresh salads, salad kits, microgreens and herbs, announced the addition of significant new retail distribution of its products in the upper Midwest.  

Starting December 2020, LGF’s ready-to-eat bagged salad products (Caesar Salad Kit, Southwest Salad Kit, Harvest Salad Kit, Chopped Romaine, and Chopped Butter Lettuce) will be carried in 80 high-volume CUB Foods stores in Minnesota and Illinois. CUB is known for its focus on food quality and commitment to offering high-quality produce.

The Giumarra Cos. announced a new partnership with Santiago, Chile-based CarSol Group, a large grower and distributor of blueberries from Chile and Peru. The venture is a key part of the company’s ongoing initiative to increase its berry business and secure supplies with grower partners.

“This partnership represents an important step in Giumarra’s commitment to our berry business,” said Tom Richardson, senior vice president of global development for the Giumarra Cos. “As one of the early producers of blueberries in Chile, CarSol Group played a critical role in the development of the Chilean

The 2020 pistachio harvest wrapped up just a few months ago with the industry’s largest crop in history totaling 1.05 billion pounds. Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, the nation’s second-largest pistachio grower and processor, also celebrated a record-breaking season.

Setton Pistachio, which is based in California’s Central Valley, has been preparing for this milestone crop for several years by implementing a synchronized approach to each aspect of growing, producing, and packing bulk and retail packaged pistachios. Through cutting-edge automation, Setton Pistachio continues to efficiently

Jennifer Wagner Sanchez has joined Church Bros. Farms as director of marketing. She has more than 20 years of experience in the fresh produce industry in marketing, sales and category management roles.

Sanchez was most recently at Driscoll’s as director of retail sales and, previous to that, was vice president of marketing and category management at Green Giant Fresh.

At Church Bros. Farms, Sanchez’ responsibilities will include directing brand management, communications and messaging, event management, new product launches and the design and development of collateral for the company’s