Versatility key for Idaho fingerlings
With a tender interior and small to medium in size, Idaho fingerlings are popular as a side dish due to their versatility — they can be cooked or roasted whole, stuffed, shaved and chipped, and even braised in oil for a earthy confit.
Idaho produces three main fingerling varieties:
Record numbers of exhibitors, attendees pack 90th annual CPMA show in Montreal
MONTREAL — With almost 300 exhibitors occupying 500 exhibit spaces at the Palais de congrès de Montréal, here, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 90th annual convention and trade show, under way April 15-17, is the largest CPMA trade show yet.
Walmart Canada named CPMA's Fresh Health Award winner
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association announced Walmart Canada as the winner of the 2015 Fresh Health Award.
PHAC looking into leafy greens as source of E.coli outbreak
The Public Health Agency of Canada announced that it is collaborating with federal and provincial public health partners to investigate an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7, commonly called E.coli, with a possible link to leafy greens. The agency said that a specific product has not been identified yet and the investigation is ongoing.
SUNSET celebrates 20 years of flavor with Campari
It’s been two flavorful decades since SUNSET has introduced the Campari tomato. In 1995, the greenhouse company introduced the unique European variety. Unlike other tomatoes on the market, it was small, about golf-ball sized, and not at all watery like its bigger counterparts at the time.
PMA Fresh Connections: Retail
More than 150 members of the fresh produce and floral supply chain gathered in Philadelphia in April for Produce Marketing Association Fresh Connections: Retail. The event gave industry members a platform to network and discuss industry trends and opportunities.
Giant Berry Farms promotes Kristin Kleiber
Watsonville, CA-based Giant Berry Farms announced the promotion of Kristin Kleiber to marketing and sales analyst on April 6.
Mack: Florida crop is progressing quite well
Arnold Mack, president and chief executive officer of McMelon Inc., said growing conditions for watermelon production point to a favorable Florida season. “The Florida crop is progressing quite well,” he told The Produce News in early April. “The crop is impressive looking. We should have some nice promotable volume.”
Looking at the industry as a whole, Mack said Florida production showed some activity at the beginning of April, and many of the state’s watermelon producers anticipating activity to ramp up during mid-April. “Everyone will be irrigating,” he said.
First Florida spring movement for Oakes Farms and D’Ottavio Produce partnership unfolding smoothly and successfully
M. D’Ottavio Produce Inc. in Vineland, NJ, and Oakes Farms of Immokalee, FL, announced last September that they had formed a partnership wherein Oakes Farms would produce on over 600 acres in Immokalee under the “D’Ottavio” brand name.
In mid-March, Steve Veneziano, vice president of operations for Oakes Farms, told The Produce News that the partnership was off to a great start and both companies were looking forward to continued success moving forward.
Hapco Farms ready for start of domestic watermelon program
Hapco Farms is looking forward to the start of its domestic watermelon deal, with product from south Florida expected to begin shipping late April.
Raquel Mello, who is in watermelon sales for the Riverhead, NY-based company, said that Florida melons have gotten off to a slow start this year due to colder-than-normal temperatures. Hapco is currently shipping Mexican and offshore melons.
“Our domestic melon program will run from late April through Labor Day, and we anticipate a good crop this year that is plentiful for all major holidays,” she said.