NEPC show host to fruit from Chile, veggies from Jersey and more
CHATHAM, MA — Our series from the New England Produce Council Expo 2015 — NEPC by the Sea — held here Sept. 16-18 continues with another look at the beachside trade show floor.
Kids opt for whole fruit over juice, apples over all else
A recent study published in Pediatrics has good news for the apple industry: apples make up nearly one-fifth of the fruit intake for children ages 2 to 19.
So many highlights at Southern Innovations Symposium
CHARLESTON, SC — The Southeast Produce Council's annual Southern Innovations Symposium mixed business functions with entertaining social events to create quite a successful event for the big crowd that gathered here Sept. 17-19.
PermaTherm premium insulated panels star in an impressive experiment
MONTICELLO, GA — On a Friday morning in September, workers at PermaTherm’s manufacturing facility, here, bustled about setting up ramps in the parking lot for a demonstration of the strength of its premium insulated refrigeration panels as a pair of reporters from The Produce News looked on. A two-ton jet black Ford F-150 pickup truck sat ominously nearby.
NoKota pleased with crop
As the Red River Valley red potato harvest was just getting under way, Steve Tweten took a conservative approach to his Produce News interview.
Tweten, who is the president and chief executive officer of NoKota Packers Inc. in Buxton, ND, said the color of the first-dug red potatoes in early September “is really nice. So far, it’s going well. We have nice average tonnage.”
And for how long into the fall did Tweten expect to be harvesting? “You tell me how much it’s going to rain,” he pleasantly retorted.
‘Interesting growing season’ brings J.C. Watson early onion crop, great quality
The 2015 growing season was out of the norm from the jump, according to Jon Watson, president of J.C. Watson Packing Co., headquartered in Parma, ID.
“It’s been a very interesting growing season,” Watson said in mid-August. “The crop is about the same amount of acres as it’s been, but we planted earlier this year. Also, we’ve had favorable weather, hot weather, and we’re 10 days to two weeks earlier in this year’s crop.”
J.C. Watson started running onions on July 31, and early reds were going into storage in August.
Snake River Produce increasing sweet program in 2015 season
Now in its fifth year, the sweet onion program at Snake River Produce continues to see good demand as it grows in volume.
The Nyssa, OR, onion packingshed will be shipping from its 50 acres of sweets this season, according to General Manager Kay Riley and Transportation Manager and Sales/Marketing Assistant Tiffany Cruickshank.
“The market is growing on a steady basis, and the Snake River Sweets have been well-received,” Riley said in late August. “We’re very optimistic about the program.”
Fall activities highlight Ocean Spray’s 85th anniversary
Ocean Spray is marking its 85th year with a full slate of fall activities that will highlight the longtime cooperative’s role as the leading cranberry marketer.
“Fall is our big season, and this year will be very exciting,” said Sharon Newcomb, associate global brands communications manager at Ocean Spray. “We’re planning many activities to give a nod to our 85th year.”
Smart & Final to open 100 new stores
Smart & Final Stores Inc., a value and quality-oriented retailer, plans to open 100 new stores in the next four years. Additionally, it will invest in 100 new neighborhood projects and 100 teams of new store employees as part of its Project 100.