Sunny Valley International projecting blueberry import increases
Blueberry imports to the United States have grown by large percentages in the past decade, and there is no sign of it slowing down looking into the future.
Sunny Valley International, headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, projects 10 to 15 percent increases in blueberries from Peru, Chile and Argentina for this import season.
Perishable Specialist heading into 13th anniversary in business
Clients of The Perishable Specialist Inc., headquartered in Miami, have expressed an anticipated increase in berry imports from Argentina and Chile this season.
Ana Ramos, along with her husband and partner, Frank Ramos, are licensed customs brokers and owners of the leading brokerage firm that specializing in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Ana Ramos said that from the company’s standpoint, this does not mean that production in Argentina will be increased.
Certified Onions Inc. adds testing by Idaho Food Safety Assurance Lab
Finding a need and filling it is one of the hallmarks of American agriculture, and in June 2009 several onion shippers from the Treasure Valley of Idaho-Easter Oregon did just that when they formed Certified Onions Inc.
In the six years since, Nyssa, OR-based COI has not only provided testing for pesticide residue and, more recently, for pathogens, but it has also received recognition from the onion industry and other entities for doing so.
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.”
‘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.
Four Rivers Onion Packing starts season with plenty of jumbos
Just weeks after re-establishing himself in the Treasure Valley and taking on the role of sales/operations manager for Four Rivers Onion Packing in Weiser, ID, Ken Stewart provided The Produce News with a crop update for the longtime Idaho operation now under ownership of Tracy Fowler.
Fowler purchased Four Rivers Packing from Randy and Jan Smith and Dennis and Debra Ujiiye in mid-June, and Stewart joined the team in late July. The company name was modified to include the word “Onion.”
Operations status quo at Central Produce Distributors
Central Produce Distributors Inc., headquartered in Payette, ID, plans to market an onion volume that is on par with last year’s crop. Sales Manager Dan Phillips said production acreage for the grower-owned company has remained stable, and he characterized overall activity as “status quo.”
The company’s growers produce the Vaquero, Pandero and Granero onion varieties. Yellows comprise 85 percent of the company’s overall pack. Reds and whites round out the balance.
Murakami Produce ahead of schedule with early onions and storage varieties
Early onions were even earlier for Murakami Produce in Ontario, OR, this season, according to Grant Kitamura, president and general manager of the operation.
“We’ve been shipping since Aug. 10,” he said on Aug. 17. “The crop is about 10 days to two weeks ahead of normal, and our storage varieties are also maturing ahead of schedule.”
Kitamura said the Treasure Valley, along with the Northwest, had seen triple-digit temperatures in late June and early July.
“The quality is very good, and we have a good range of sizes,” he noted.
Haun calls drip ‘a huge conservation measure’
Growing conditions this summer in the Treasure Valley brought the onions on earlier for most shippers, and Herb Haun, vice president and sales manager of Haun Packing in Weiser, ID, said his company is no exception.
“We started harvesting the first week of August, a week to 10 days ahead of normal,” Haun said mid-August. “The market was good, and the onions were ready,” he added.
Panorama Produce says word about El Niño weather system is spreading through industry
During an El Niño event, westward-blowing trade winds weaken along the Equator.
The changes in pressure and wind speed cause warm surface water to move eastward along the Equator, from the western Pacific to the coast of South America.
El Niño events can impact fisheries and produce crops alike. And this year word is out that it is affecting the South American mango crop.
Rick Nagelberg, vice president of Panorama Produce Sales Inc., based in Mamaroneck, NY, said, “Everyone is talking about bloom drops on mango trees associated with El Niño.”