Staff reductions at Pandol Bros. reflect efficiency of new technologies
2011-01-13
Anthony Stetson, formerly vice president of sales at Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, and Tristan Kieva, director of marketing and business development, along with a half-dozen other Pandol staff members, were let go because updated systems hardware and software recently put in place by the company reduced the number of employees needed to carry on its business, according to John Pandol, director of special projects.
Dennis James to leave Pear Bureau Northwest after 10 years of service
2011-01-13
PORTLAND, OR -- As of Jan. 28, Dennis James will leave his post as director
of marketing at the Pear Bureau Northwest in order to take a brief break in his
career so that he can focus on his personal life.
Second sub-freezing night averted in Florida as cloud cover moves in
2011-01-13
Florida farmers dodged a bullet Jan. 13-14 when a second consecutive night
of sub-freezing temperatures failed to materialize. In most of the state's
production areas, high cloud cover moved in overnight and acted as a blanket
to trap the ground's heat and keep temperatures from dropping to forecast
levels.
Karen Ross named to be California's next secretary of agriculture
2011-01-12
Karen Ross, who is chief of staff for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack,
was named to be the next secretary of the California Department of Food &
Agriculture Jan. 12 by newly elected Gov. Jerry Brown.
Fruits and vegetables star in USDA's proposed rule on school nutrition
2011-01-12
WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association is cheering a new
proposed rule from the Department of Agriculture that would significantly
increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables served to the 32 million
students served by the National School Lunch Program.The proposed rule, announced Jan. 13, seeks to align the National School
Breakfast and Lunch programs with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and Institute
of Medicine's recommendations, both of which call for increased consumption
of fruits and vegetables.
Vegetable market strengthens on decreased supplies from the West
2011-01-12
Aside from the dawning of 2011, New Year's weekend also brought freezing
temperatures to much of California and Arizona, which have resulted in a bit
of a supply gap for a number of vegetables items.Tim Tomasello, sales manager of Ippolito International LP in Salinas, CA, said
that the severity of the cold weather over the three-day weekend caught
some people by surprise. Combined with a bunching of many crops prior to
that and a few quality problems, this situation caused many vegetable prices
to spike during the week of Jan. 10-15.
Interest in Asian produce expected to continue during the Year of the Rabbit
2011-01-12
The Year of the Tiger is preparing to give way to the Year of the Rabbit with
the commencement of Chinese New Year on Feb. 3, and U.S. produce
marketers are looking to capitalize on the growing interest in Asian specialty
items.Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Melissa's/World Variety
Produce in Los Angeles, said that fortune is smiling on the Year of the Rabbit.
"This is the time of year when Americans are eating healthier," he told The
Produce News. “Chinese New Year has become an Americanized holiday.”
Hard freeze surprises Florida as Arctic front stabs deep into Southeast
2011-01-12
TAMPA, FL -- Florida farmers scrambled to protect already battered crops
from yet another hard freeze that surprised much of the state in the early
hours of Jan. 13. Forecasts initially called for temperatures near freezing, but
as the evening of Jan. 12 progressed, frigid winds frosted north and central
Florida as temperatures dipped into the low 20s with winds gusting to 20
mph and chill factors in the teens.
Pro*Act
2011-01-12
Get the latest information on weather conditions, freight rates and a full range of commodities from The Source, Pro*Act's semi-weekly report.
