December 2020 - 39

INDUSTRY NEWS
Pullano promoted;
Nay joins GAMS
Great American Media Services
(GAMS) has announced a
promotion and staff addition
to its award-winning Specialty
Agriculture group of publications.
Gary Pullano has been promoted
from managing editor to editor
of Fruit Growers News (FGN),
Vegetable Growers News (VGN) and
National Nut Grower, the company's
new quarterly publication set to
launch in 2021.
" Gary has been doing an
exemplary job
in the day-today
operations
of FGN and
VGN since
being named
managing
GARY
PULLANO
editor in 2017, "
said Specialty
Agriculture
Editorial
Director Tim
Hodson. " His hard
work, dedication and commitment
to excellence have been and
continue to be a major asset to the
success of our publications. " I know
that under Gary's leadership, the
editorial content of FGN, VGN and
National Nut Grower will continue
to thrive and set the pace for the
industry we cover. "
Pullano joined GAMS in 2013 as
associate editor of FGN and VGN.
He has had an extensive career as a
journalist based in west Michigan,
having served at weekly, daily
and specialty business-to-business
publications as a reporter, editor
and newsroom manager.
" I am pleased to be able to
continue to lead our talented team's
efforts with VGN, FGN and National
Nut Grower to provide the timely,
accurate and pertinent information
to the specialty agriculture
industry, " Pullano said.
Pullano also is
a contributing
editor for the
company's
other specialty
agriculture
publications,
Spudman,
Produce
Processing and
Organic Grower.
In addition
to Pullano's
CRYSTAL NAY
enhanced role, Crystal Nay has
been added to the team as Western
Editor, based in California.
Nay has been a regular freelance
contributor to several different
publications covering specialty
agriculture, including the nut and
organic markets on the West Coast.
She will be contributing to the
pages of Vegetable Growers News,
National Nut Grower and Organic
Grower.
" Crystal's agriculture industry
experience and location will allow
our publications to expand our
coverage of the fruit, vegetable, nut
and organic markets on the West
Coast, " Hodson said.
" We are excited to have Crystal
joining our team at Great American
Media Services, " said Gerry Bogdon,
vice president/group publisher
of specialty agriculture for
GAMS. " She brings a wealth of
knowledge and experience of nut
production and processing to
National Nut Grower. "
California duo acquires
cranberry plant
California-based dried fruit
industry leaders John Potter and
Willie Traina have joined forces
to form American Berry Co. by
acquiring the CranGrow cranberry
processing facility in Warrens,
Wisconsin.
American Berry will be led
by newly appointed CEO Alan
DeVore, a veteran executive in the
dried fruit industry with strong ties
to Wisconsin cranberry growers.
According to a news release, the
new ownership team represents
multiple generations of experience
in the dried fruit industry. From
its family farm in California's
San Joaquin Valley, Traina Foods
grows, sundries and produces
premium sundried fruit.
Innovative Sales Inc. is a
centralized source for high quality
bulk raw and processed nuts
and dried fruit ingredients. In
addition to co-owning Innovative
Sales, Potter also co-owns New
Aces Pecan Co., a Las Cruces, New
Mexico-based pecan plant.
The launch of American Berry
is a natural evolution for the two
companies, and a complement
to the overall business portfolio,
adding more value to the overall
customer experience.
" The facility acquisition and
formation of American Berry
provides unequaled synergies for
Traina Foods, Innovative Sales and
local cranberry growers, " said
Willie Traina. The individual sales
strengths of Traina Foods and
Innovative Sales in the Industrial,
Foodservice, CPG and export
markets combined with American
Berry's ability to provide high
quality dried cranberries provides
seamless vertical integration
benefiting our existing and future
customers, the local cranberry
community and the industry at
large. "
The processing facility is located
in Warrens, Wisconsin - the heart
of the world's largest cranberry
producing region. Completed in
2016, the American Berry plant
features over 8,000 square feet
of processing space, the latest in
dried fruit processing technology
that can maximize dried cranberry
processing efficiencies and, when
fully operational, will employ
approximately 70 people.
owners and USDA, we were able
to intercept these shipments. These
detections showcase the importance
of being on the continual
lookout for invasive species, " said
Robert Miller, MDARD's invasive
species prevention and response
specialist. " This a great example of
the public and government agencies
working together to keep out
unwanted pests and protecting our
prized natural resources. "
Invasive species are those that
are not native and can cause harm
to the economy, environment, or
human health.
DeVore added that American
Berry is in the process of filling
staff positions at all levels at the
Warrens facility. " After a great
2020 harvest, we're excited
to offer new employment
opportunities and become fully
operational. We are reaching out
to former Warrens employees
in the hopes that we'll see some
familiar faces return, " he said.
" Our new ownership team is
committed to the same familyowned
business approach at
American Berry that both Traina
Foods and Innovative Sales has
taken for generations through a
focus on local impact, including
competitive employment
packages and ongoing community
engagement. "
Cranberry Growers (CranGrow)
was founded by over 30 Wisconsin
cranberry growers. The growing
operations that constitute the
cooperative are family-owned
and operated farms that have
been passed on from generation
to generation, many for over 100
years.
Michigan identifies
spotted lanternfly cases
The Michigan Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development
(MDARD) is asking freight carriers,
warehouse workers and delivery
drivers to be on the lookout for
invasive spotted lanternfly after the
United States
Department
of Agriculture
confirmed
dead spotted
lanternfly
insects were
found in
Michigan in recent weeks.
While the specimens found were
dead, these cases demonstrate
one of the many ways this insect
could find its way into the state.
There is no evidence of established
populations of spotted lanternfly
in Michigan.
" Thanks to the collective efforts
of MDARD inspectors, alert business
If introduced, spotted lanternfly
could seriously affect Michigan's
agriculture and natural resources.
This insect could damage more
than 70 varieties of crops and plants
including grapes, apples, hops and
hardwood trees.
Apply now for USDA's
coronavirus funding
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
reminds farmers and ranchers
that the deadline to apply for
the Coronavirus Food Assistance
Program 2 is Dec. 11, 2020.
This program provides direct
relief to producers who continue
to face
market
disruptions
and
associated
costs
because of COVID-19.
" Producers have one more
month to get their applications
in for this important relief
program, " said Richard Fordyce,
FSA administrator. " Applying is
simple and our staff is available
to assist every step of the way. "
The Coronavirus Food
Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2)
will provide up to $14 billion to
eligible producers of certain row
crops, livestock, dairy, specialty
crops, aquaculture and more. All
eligible commodities, payment
rates and calculations can be
found on farmers.gov/cfap. CFAP
2 is a separate program from the
first iteration of the program
(CFAP 1)and interested producers
must complete a new application
to be eligible for payment for
CFAP 2.
Customers seeking one-onone
support with the CFAP 2
application process can call
877-508-8364 to speak directly
with a USDA employee ready to
offer general assistance. This is a
recommended first step before
a producer engages the team at
the FSA county office.
More information can be found
at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
FGN | DECEMBER 2020 | 39
http://www.farmers.gov/cfap http://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus
December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2020
