IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO – Kingston & Associates Marketing LLC, one of the largest distributors and marketers of fresh produce to the restaurant and cruise line industries, announced today their plans for aggressive spring promotions of its well known ‘Sugar Pine’ pineapple program. Initially launching the program with grower partners in 2000, Kingston was one of the first companies to successfully initiate a direct import Golden Pineapple program through local operations in Costa Rica. For the past twelve years the Company has solidified its position as a premier marketer of high quality pineapple in 
the United States.
Mike Anderson, Imports Procurement Manager for Kingston, commented from his recent trip to the farms, "The Costa Rican volume will peak over the next several months and I am really excited with the quality we are seeing in the fields. Our ‘boots on the ground’ team are working hard to ensure only the very best fruit is selected for our Kingston ‘Sugar Pine’ brand.” Kingston President, Ken Nabal added, "With the Spring comes an increase in customer appetites for fresh, tropical fruits. Starting with Easter, we are poised for some great promotions for this season’s holiday schedule. The key with our ‘Sugar Pine’ promotion, as with all our programs, will be a relentless commitment to product quality, food safety, and customer service. This is our brand promise at Kingston and how we’ve built the MD2 program over the years. We have optimized our vertically integrated supply chain of growers, trucking logistics, Food Safety personnel, warehousing, and marketing professionals.”
As part of the Kingston pineapple expansion, the Company has also announced the hiring of industry veteran, Susan Underwood, as a Key Account Manager for Kingston & Associates. Specializing in growing business development with a key focus on tropical imports and retail accounts, Susan’s unique-skill set makes her a perfect addition to the team. Underwood’s background includes seven years with Brooks Tropical as a Sales Manager and Director of National Sales as well as four years with Frontera Produce, working within both their Florida and Texas offices.
“Susan brings with her an extensive background in sales and customer service that is a strong fit for our growing needs at Kingston,” said Ken Nabal, President. “She will be an excellent addition to the team and will help us grow new sales that expand our tropical programs. Nabal also added, “I have worked with her in the past and know her to be a talented, persistent, and experienced team player. Her customers love her!”
About Kingston Companies
- Kingston & Associates Marketing is one of the largest distributors and marketers of produce products including fresh potatoes, onions, lettuce, broccoli, sweet pineapples, and much more (http://www.kingstonmarketing.com).
- Kingston Cross Dock and Cold Storage is a state-of-the-art produce storage and shipping facility in Pompano Beach, FL. Learn more at http://www.kingstoncrossdock.com
- Associated Trucking provides refrigerated, non-refrigerated, and flatbed transportation to all 48 states in the continental USA. We provide transportation services to the fresh produce, nursery, furniture and other industries.
Source: Kingston Companies
