Blue Creek anticipates fall organic deal; celebrates first decade
Roger Riehm is looking forward to a return to the fall tomato business. His firm, Blue Creek Produce LLC, will begin its seasonal organic tomato shipments about Sept. 8.
When he spoke with The Produce News on Aug. 21, the summer tomato business was lacking in joy. This summer’s supply was heightened, though, because of mostly great summer weather across the country. He said 25-pound boxes of tomatoes in San Diego were selling for $4.95, before freight.
Spice World’s diversity in garlic
“Spice World covers all aspects of the garlic industry,” Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, told The Produce News. “From growing, packing, marketing and distribution, we are totally integrated in every way — from seed to plate.
Lakeside Organic Gardens ‘firmly rooted’ for years to come
“We farm the soil and the soil grows the crop,” said Dick Peixoto, owner and sole grower of Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC in Watsonville, CA.
“When Dick brought organic produce to the market for the first time in 1996, it was like a dream come true,” said Lindsey Roberts, marketing communications director. “He successfully conquered the challenge of converting over 1,000 acres to certified organic land, which his peers called him crazy for trying. Today, he farms on over 2,000 acres and remains as intimately connected in all aspects of his family-owned-and-operated business.”
Del Rey Avocado continues to expand organic program
“The organic program is extremely important to Del Rey. It is a very big part of our company,” whether it be fruit from California, Mexico or Peru, said Bob Lucy, president of Del Rey Avocado Co.
The company has been getting “very good returns for growers” with organic avocados, and getting good returns for growers is “our number one job,” he said.
Del Rey has been involved in organics for about 10 years, and the program has grown to where the company handles “a very high percentage” of the California organic avocado crop, Lucy said.
CPAC in ‘wait-and-see’ mode with Mexican market issues
MONTE VISTA, CO — Mexican marketing campaigns remain in a holding pattern as the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee awaits further word on the border fully reopening for potato exports from the San Luis Valley, according to CPAC Assistant Director Linda Weyers.
Weyers said in mid-August, “We’re playing the waiting game right now,” noting the committee was awarded a USDA specialty crop block grant early this year to research consumer-direct marketing programs for its Mexican trade.
RPE expecting early September harvest
MONTE VISTA, CO — RPE’s Colorado facility located near Monte Vista will see the start of its 2014 new crop in early September, according to Manager David Tonso.
Tonso, longtime San Luis Valley potato shipper who came to RPE in 2013, heads up a staff of four sales, two customer service reps and two transportation facilitators. Since his arrival, the staff has expanded to handle growing domestic and export accounts.
‘New’ MVPG general manager continues family tradition
MONTE VISTA, CO — Though he’s new to the position of general manager, assuming responsibilities with the retirement of the operation’s longtime GM, Jason Tillman has several years’ experience at Monte Vista Potato Growers under his belt.
Tillman is going into his fourth year MVPG and now sits in the manager’s chair occupied for 22 years by his dad, Steve Tillman.
2014 New Jersey fall produce underway with good quantity and quality
The 2014 fall produce season is underway and should be highlighted by good quantities of high-quality produce available for wholesale and retail purchase. After four seasons in a row with extraordinary weather that has had a major impact on our fall season, we have enjoyed a late, but average, growing season this year, according to New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson of Rutgers University.
Auction’s Carol DeFoor ‘looking forward to a strong fall’
VINELAND, NJ — The Vineland Produce Auction’s Carol DeFoor was looking forward to a good fall season, as the quality of fresh produce items has been consistently high throughout the summer even as supply and demand was affecting pricing during the month of August.
New Jersey’s 2014 spring produce season got off to a late start due to the unusually long and cold winter, but “the beginning part of the season was really good,” DeFoor told The Produce News Aug. 19 at her office here. “We made up for the late start.”
New Jersey Agricultural Society making an impact on people’s lives
In 2003, as a new teacher of a high school agricultural education program, I was fortunate to connect with the circle of New Jersey agriculture teachers who taught in similar programs. During a conversation with a colleague, I was introduced to the term “gleaning,” which I learned is the act of harvesting surplus produce from farm fields. My colleague invited me to attend a gleaning with his FFA [originally Future Farmers of America] chapter at a local farm through a program called New Jersey Farmers Against Hunger.