Smart merchandising boosts Father’s Day floral sales
A dad is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love. On Sunday, June 21, dads across the United States will be celebrated and honored on their special day. In fact, last year 76 percent of Americans celebrated Father’s Day and $12.5 billion was spent, with the average gift costing $119.84, according to the National Retail Federation. Floral sales can be part of that gift-giving pie with a little creativity and smart merchandising.
Reflections on floriculture at Northern California’s FPFC Expo
The Northern California Fresh Produce & Floral Council Expo in Pleasanton, CA, on April 8 was a very intimate and relationship-driven show.
As a vendor, we look for (and want to introduce the buyers to) new and wonderful products. As I walked up and down the aisles, I realized how each vendor has become a great friend or at least a fond neighbor.
We socialize, have drinks together, laugh, cry and talk about the news in our floral industry.
Fountain of life and messenger of love
“For bees, the flower is the fountain of life;
For flowers, the bee is the messenger of love.”
~Khalil Gibran (1883-1931); Lebanese artist and poet
Sonora grape industry convenes for annual meeting
HERMOSILLO, SONORA — About 250 Mexican industry growers and related suppliers gathered April 23-24 for the Sonora Spring Summit 2015. The annual Sonora grape marketing meeting involved vineyard tours, an opening party and a day in conference in Hermosillo to discuss Sonoran grape marketing issues.
United Fresh Produce Association announces inaugural Global Cold Chain Expo
The United Fresh Produce Association and the Global Cold Chain Alliance announced the inaugural Global Cold Chain Expo, to be held in June 2016 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer for United Fresh, and Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO for GCCA, jointly made the announcement this week in Orlando, FL.
Kroger promoting Fresh From Florida sweet corn
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that Kroger is promoting Fresh From Florida sweet corn through an online coupon and in-store advertising campaign in more than 300 Kroger stores in seven states. This is Kroger's first partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' Fresh From Florida campaign.
French government honors Sopexa USA exec
The French government has awarded Valerie Gerard-Matsuura the Order of Agricultural Merit in recognition of her contributions in promoting French food and beverage products internationally. This prestigious certification is awarded to a select few people each year who have been judged by their achievements to develop and promote the French agricult
Early Northwest production to fuel retail sales
Retailers and consumers can expect to see some of their favorite commodities from the Pacific Northwest hitting the produce department earlier than normal in 2015. The reason can be summed up in two words: wonderful weather.
Atlantic Fresh LLC offering Sonoran seedless watermelons
RIO RICO, AZ — Beyond brokering Mexican produce items from Nogales, Atlantic Fresh Trading LLC offers its own watermelons within its springtime brokered offerings. The seedless watermelons are grown in Obregon, Sonora, and will be on the market from April until the July 4 holiday. In a mid-March interview, Chris Pantoja, who heads the six-person sales office, indicated the 2015 watermelon crop outlook is very good.
Keith Connell to ship watermelons into late summer
“We’re hoping for a good year — unlike last year” in the watermelon business, said Mike Meyer, a salesman for Keith Connell Inc., based in Stillwell, KS. “No one can afford a year like last year, when all of the growing areas had a late start.”
In early April, he added, “Texas already has a late start this year.” As the West and South come into watermelon production, volumes may again “stack up on the East Coast. We need some time slots” for orderly watermelon marketing, Meyer noted.