NatureFresh Farms increased Bell pepper acreage, meeting surging demand
Now in to its fourth week of Canadian production, NatureFresh Farms’ Bell pepper program is being met with open arms not only by retailers but consumers too.
Avocado shipments continue on record pace
Mexico pumped a lot of fruit into the United States during the first quarter of the year setting the stage for a total annual volume that could eclipse 2015 numbers. Last year Mexico sent 1.77 billion pounds to that U.S. markets with total consumption approaching 2.2 billion pounds.
According to data on the Hass Avocado Board website, during the first 12 weeks of 2016, Mexico shipped about 525 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. market compared with about a 425 million pounds for the same period in 2015.
Freshness from Europe finding great success in Canadian market
The European Flavors’ program, a three-year European Union project for worldwide promotion of the quality and tastiness of fresh and processed European fruit and vegetable products, got its start in 2008.
The program enjoyed such great success during its first three-year period that at its end it was renewed for another three years, during which time it was launched in Canada. It met with mutual success in that country.
Today, at the start of another three-year program period, it has been rebranded and renamed, and is now called “Freshness from Europe.”
Freggie reinforces importance of fresh produce consumption
Tomorrow’s Canadian consumers will have the benefit of being school children today growing up in the age of Freggie. “Freggie is the embodiment of the youth component of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s ‘Half Your Plate’ campaign for elementary aged school children (5-12 years old),” CPMA stated on its website. “Freggie and Freggie Tales are designed to provide children with the opportunity to learn about fruits and vegetables in a fun and exciting way.”
CPMA’s 91st annual Convention & Trade Show in Calgary
Calgary’s BMO Centre, one of several Stampede Park venues for the famed Calgary Stampede in July, serves as the 2016 site for the 91st annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention & Trade Show, April 12-14.
With five exhibit halls and 10 breakout rooms, the facility is the largest convention center in the Alberta city and sits in the Beltline district south of downtown.
Whole Foods continues to expand Instacart delivery
Whole Foods Market and Instacart have expanded their partnership, launching this week in Orange County, CA, building on the 17 existing metros where consumers use Instacart’s delivery service to order from Whole Foods Market stores.
Spring holidays, caffeine and a new look
Valentine’s Day, Women’s Day and Easter are all behind us and we’re rapidly heading into Passover, Administrative Professionals Week, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. Have you needed to boost your caffeine intake during this spring floral holiday marathon or do you have healthier ways to increase your stamina?
Memorial Day Flowers Foundation utilizes flowers to honor the remembered and the remembering
Memorial Day is right around the corner and the floral industry continues its support for the special tribute created by the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the MDFF will place flowers on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery and give bouquets to family and friends paying respect to loved ones. During this “flowers for the remembered and the remembering,” 140,000 roses will be placed and handed out at ANC and 3,000 bouquets will be given to families and to 200 volunteers upon leaving the cemetery.
The power of flowers and plants in our lives
Flowers have a positive impact on our lives. Three behavioral studies conducted at Rutgers University’s Department of Psychology in New Brunswick, NJ, show that flowers are a powerful, positive emotion inducer.
The thrill of lobbying — experiencing democracy in action
On March 14-15 the Society of American Florists held its 36th annual Congressional Action two-day event in Washington, DC, and a 90-member delegation gathered to lobby and advocate on behalf of the needs of the floral industry. On the first day, attendees learned about the issues and how to use their influence as constituents while preparing for day two, when they headed to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their legislative aides to advocate for the industry’s issues.