Del Monte expands global environmental sustainability programs
Del Monte Fresh Produce announced that the its banana operations in Costa Rica (33 farms and 41 packinghouses, totaling 26,324 acres) achieved carbon neutrality certification by SCS earlier this year.
Raisins to get their day in court
Tomorrow, April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case pitting two California raisin growers against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal marketing order regulating raisins.
At issue is a provision of the California Raisin Marketing Order that allows the administrative committee of that order to take a percentage of raisins off the market each year.
Mexican mango crop expected to be a big one
The 2015 mango crop projections from Empacadoras de Mango de Exportación, the organization that represents Mexico’s mango export packing facilities, indicate this will be a significant year for Mexican mango production and for mango exports to the United States.
Washington apricot crop slated for mid-June
The Washington fresh apricot crop should hit the market by about the middle of June and be fairly close to the 642,000 24-pound cartons that were produced last year, according to James Michael, vice president of marketing for North America for the Washington State Fruit Commission.
Ready Pac introduces hemp to salad kit, Bistro Bowl
Ready Pac Foods' newest products, which feature hemp as a key ingredient, hit Safeway's store shelves April 20. The company said its Hemp Caesar Salad Kit and Bistro Bowl Jamaican Style Jerk Hemp Seed Salad are the first mass-produced, ready-to-eat salad products to feature hemp.
CPMA open for business on the expo floor
Record numbers of attendees and exhibitors packed the Palais des congrès de Montréal April 15-17 for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 90th annual convention and trade show.
Fresh Farms encourages June promotions of Mexican table grapes
June is the month for North American retailers to focus on promoting Mexican table grapes, noted Jerry Havel, the director of sales and marketing for Fresh Farms.
The company’s sales and distribution center is in Rio Rico, AZ. Fresh Farms is owned by Mexico’s Molina family, which is one of the country’s largest-volume grape growers.
Havel said that 80 percent of Mexico’s grapes are shipped in June. Thus, making it the prime time for retail promotions.
Positive outlook for MAS’ melons
With a start on the early side, the Mexican grape deal will enjoy a relatively long season, according to Miguel (Miky) Suarez, a partner in MAS Melons & Grapes, LLC, based in Rio Rico, AZ.
Albertsons announces new CEO, additional restructuring
AB Acquisition LLC, parent company of Albertson’s LLC, New Albertson’s Inc., and Safeway Inc. announced that Bob Miller, the company’s current executive chairman, will assume the additional role of chief executive officer, effective immediately. Robert Edwards, who had been appointed CEO, will continue on with the company as vice chairman providing counsel to the board and the organization on key strategic and integration matters.
Mexico’s grape industry foresees a bright future
The future of Mexico’s grape industry “is very strong,” in the view of Jerry Havel, the director of sales and marketing for Fresh Farms, in his office in Rio Rico, AZ.
Mexico consistently produces grapes that are “very sweet and large in size year in and year out. The grape quality is outstanding.”
Specifically of the coming season, he said, “I am looking forward to another great year.”
The industry indicates that green Mexican grape shipping will begin about May 5. The deal will last until about July 4.