Custom Produce Sales issues recall of ‘Fat Boy’ brand cucumbers
Custom Produce Sales, based in Parlier, CA, is voluntarily recalling all cucumbers sold under the “Fat Boy” label starting Aug. 1, 2015 because they may be contaminated with Salmonella and are covered by an ongoing recall. No other “Fat Boy” products are covered by this recall. Unlabeled cucumbers packed into a black reusable plastic container and were sold in Nevada, as of Aug. 1, 2015, are also covered by this recall.
Apio salad kit packed with superfoods
The new Eat Smart Southwest Vegetable Salad Kit, available from Apio Inc. in September, helps consumers enjoy nutrient-rich, restaurant-quality salads in the comfort of their home. This salad, which comes in 10-ounce and 24-ounce bags, joins Apio’s innovative line of chef-inspired gourmet vegetable salad kits.
Calif. Navel crop up from last year
California's upcoming Navel crop is expected to be 86 million 40 pound cartons, according to the CASS 2015-16 California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report released Sept. 11.
IPC leveraging success to extend Idaho brand
SUN VALLEY, ID — With the local movement gaining steam, Idaho Potato Commission President Frank Muir championed locale over local at the annual Idaho Grower Shipper Association Convention, held here Sept. 2-4.
“The Idaho brand is critical. Locale beats local,” Muir stated.
His bold statement was backed by a series of poll results. Just a few of the results showed an overwhelming 90 percent of respondents to an IPC survey equate Idaho with potatoes. Among the growing Hispanic target, 79 percent of respondents know the Idaho brand.
Fall is a great time for Spice World’s popular garlic
Spice World, a leading grower and distributor of garlic, ginger and a wide line of other herbs and spices, says that if there were a food superhero, fresh garlic would certainly claim the cape.
Cultures all over the world have turned to the health and medicinal benefits of garlic to cure everything from a common cold to the plague.
Red Sun Farms launches new sustainable packaging
Red Sun Farms, headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, is now serving its customers — and its customers’ customers — a full line of U.S. Department of Agriculture certified greenhouse grown organic vegetables. The line is being produced in the company’s greenhouses in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
PMA’s Gorny welcomes changes to newly released FSMA rule
WASHINGTON — The Food & Drug Administration has released the first final rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act — preventive control final rules for human and animal food — that better clarify for growers who’s in and who’s out of having to draft food-safety plans.
After three years of touring farms, holding public meetings and asking for comments, on Sept. 10 FDA released the human food regulation that requires food facilities, starting September 2016, to identify and minimize hazards and maintain written plans on each step in the food safety process.
United Fresh backs new truck safety bill that could boost produce shipping capacity
Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI) introduced a bill Sept. 10 that would give states the option to increase truck-weight limits to 91,000 pounds for six-axle trucks traveling on federal highways.
Ribble, who introduced the bill during a morning press conference Thursday, said he hopes to add his weight limit language to the must-pass highway reauthorization bill that expires at the end of September.
USDA gives green light to fresh Chilean cranberries
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service authorized the importation of fresh cranberries from Chile to the continental United States.
Kroger announces key executive appointments
The Kroger Co. announced the appointment of four executive vice presidents to lead key lines of business.
Mike Donnelly has been named EVP of merchandising, Chris Hjelm has been named EVP and chief information officer; Fred Morganthall has been named EVP of retail operations; and Mike Schlotman has been named EVP and chief financial officer.