Tambo Sur expects to grow asparagus volume
With the addition of several new growers, as well as larger contracts with existing growers, Tambo Sur LLC of Pompano Beach, FL, expects to increase its Peruvian asparagus imports by a healthy percentage this year.
“We usually do between 600,000 and 700,000 [cartons],” said Fabian Zarate, who serves as the firm’s sales manager. “This year I think we will do 800,000.”
Customized Brokers’ new system working well
Toward the end of 2013, Customized Brokers implemented a new operating system to add a higher degree of transparency to the customs clearing procedure for its clients.
Nelly Yunta, vice president of the Miami, FL-based customs house, which is owned by Crowley Maritime Corp., said the system is working very well. She said customers can monitor the clearing of their own product in real time and upload documents via the Internet. In essence, she said it has resulted in a more streamlined, efficient and transparent process.
Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. trades on its reliability
Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. is not the largest importer of Peruvian asparagus and the firm doesn’t survive by swinging huge ad deals with nationwide chains. However, Paul Auerbach, president of the Secaucus, NJ-based firm, said its claim to fame is that it takes care of its customers regardless of the circumstances.
He used limes to illustrate the high level of service and reliability for which the company is noted.
Business as usual for Keystone Fruit Marketing
Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc., which is headquartered in Greencastle, PA, is anticipating a Peruvian asparagus deal very similar to last year.
At least that is the view of Tracy Wood, sales manager of the firm’s Southeast Division in Vero Beach, FL. But speaking on July 29, Wood added the caveat that it is “still too early to tell. It’s winter down there right now and not all the fields are open.”
Southern Specialties looking for moderate growth
Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, has built a strong reputation in the asparagus business, which puts it in a good place for growth when U.S. buyers are looking for additional supplies or a new supplier.
Proposed fee concerns Perishables Specialists
It was two days before the deadline for comments on a new user fee on fumigating fresh produce when customs broker Frank Ramos talked to The Produce News — and he was upset.
“You don’t go from zero to $375 all at once,” said the president of The Perishable Specialists, headquartered in Miami, FL. “I understand that fees may have to go up, but to go up that much? It’s unfair, it’s unethical.”
Baley: No major hiccups in production thus far
Hollis Baley, director of marketing for Klamath Basin Fresh Organics LLC, said the cooperative is gearing up for its harvest to begin along normal timetables in September. KBFO is a cooperative of 17 family farms in the basin, all of which recognize the importance of sustainability. The majority of these family-based farms are third- and fourth-generation ag-related businesses.
The cooperative’s organic potato manifest includes russets, reds, Yukon Gold, Purple Majesty, Klamath Pearl and Purple Fiesta. Fingerlings include Ruby Crescent, Russian Banana, French and Amarosa.
Joint potato trade mission heading to Vietnam, Philippines
The Washington State Potato Commission and Oregon Potato Commission continue with collaborative efforts to gain increased international market access. This October and November, state agriculture directors from Oregon and Washington will lead a trade mission to Vietnam and the Philippines to promote fresh potatoes grown in the Pacific Northwest. Representatives from both potato commissions will be included in the delegation.
CMI ready for national rollout of Sweet Gourmet Pears program
Columbia Marketing International, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, is ready for the national rollout of its new Sweet Gourmet Pears program which includes a new pouch bag. “CMI introduced the Sweet Gourmet pouch bag for Bartletts, Anjous, Red Anjous and Bosc pears on a test basis last year,” said Steve Lutz, vice president of marketing “We were very pleased with the results. We found that the pouch bag grew volume because it increased consumer transactions with a minimal level of cross-category cannibalization. The results were meaningful increases in both dollars and volume.”
Pear conditioning program continues to gain in popularity for Rainier Fruit
The conditioned pear program offered by Rainier Fruit Co. to its retail partners continues to gain traction in the marketplace. “We set record monthly and season shipments of conditioned pears this season,” said Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter. “We believe it’s a real testament to the appeal for both retailers and consumers, given the extremely large apple crop that’s just now finishing up.”