NEPC's annual dinner dance
The New England Produce Council held its annual dinner dance gala — with the theme Moonlight Garden — at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. This year's event was especially memorable, as 2015 marks the council's 20th anniversary.
{igallery id=4286|cid=67|pid=1|type=category|children=0|addlinks=0|tags=|limit=0}
Ambrosia apples get huge media boost from Oscars
An unlikely star emerged as the national media darling when the contents of the “Everyone Wins at the Oscars” nominee gift bags were revealed to the public.
Mann Packing revamps organic packaging
Mann Packing Co. redesigned the packaging for its full line of fresh-cut organic vegetables. The revamped graphics, several months in creation, feature a premium rich color palette, clean, natural fresh design and a large window and product viewing area, according to Kim St. George, director of marketing and communication for the Salinas, CA-based firm.
FPFC meets in Northern California
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its semi-annual Northern California luncheon meeting Feb. 19 at the Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton. The event drew a crowd to listen to a keynote address on food activism as well as commodity reports on a number of different items — including California avocados, organic produce, berries and apples — from the event’s key sponsors.
{igallery id=8696|cid=66|pid=1|type=category|children=0|addlinks=0|tags=|limit=0}
Maryland cukes eyed as Salmonella source
Cucumbers from a Maryland farm are the apparent source of a Salmonella outbreak that has caused one fatality and sickened 275 people in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Although the outbreak occurred between May 20 and Sept. 30, 2014, this is the first public reporting of the incident.
Of those sickened, approximately one-third were hospitalized. The lone fatality was an elderly man who had contracted bacteremia.
NPPGA elects new chairman, honors industry veteran
Last week the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association held its banquet, which was attended by 249 people. The event included the passing of the chairman's gavel from Rick Vivatson of Cavalier, ND, to Don Suda, a chip and frozen processing potato grower from Grafton, ND. Additionally, Ron Norman was honored with the Meritorious Service Award.
Ciruli places renewed emphasis on round mangos
RIO RICO, AZ — Over the last decade in its successful effort to establish the “Champagne” brand for its shippers’ Ataulfo mangos, Ciruli Bros. LLC reduced the firm’s earlier focus on marketing round mango varieties.
In recent years, Ciruli handled some of these, but “there hasn’t been real volume,” according to Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer of Ciruli Bros. Chris and his brother Charles (Chuck) Ciruli III, chief executive officer of the company, said that round mangos are playing a larger role in the firm’s 2015 product mix.
Divine Flavor opens new distribution center
NOGALES, AZ — Divine Flavor LLC is now operating from a sparkling-new 96,000-square-foot distribution center atop a hill very near to the border of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
The firm moved in late December from previous operations in nearby Rio Rico, AZ.
Polar Express blasts through Florida, leaves mark in Georgia
Bone-chilling temperatures blasted their way through Florida and Georgia Feb. 19 as frigid Arctic air moved through the eastern United States.
“It was the coldest night of the year,” Gary Wishnatzki, president and chief executive officer of Wish Farms, told The Produce News Feb. 23.
Although temperatures plummeted into the 20s, Wishnatzki said, “It didn't affect Florida strawberries. The Florida blueberry crop got through it OK.”
On Feb. 23, Wishnatzki said temperatures had rebounded into the 80s.
West Coast port action back to normal after settlement
Though the contract still needs to be ratified, activity at all 29 West Coast ports was at near normal levels Feb. 23 after the two sides reached tentative agreement Feb. 20 on a new five-year contract.
There were still reports of work slowdowns or skeleton crews over the weekend, but by mid-morning Monday observers saw lots of dockworker activity up and down the West Coast.
Still, experts say it will take several months to get completely caught up and eliminate the backlog that piled up over the last several months of decreased activity.