'First Pick' marks the start of the Michigan blueberry harvest
The Michigan blueberry harvest is about to go into full swing, and local growers are working long hours to ensure that the blueberries are picked, packed and distributed to retailers, restaurants and consumers locally as well as throughout the country.
Michael Anthony named Garden Produce's VP of operations
The Garden Produce, based in Jacksonville, FL, recently named Michael Anthony as vice president of operations.
Duda brings convenience to celery category
At the PMA Foodservice Expo this year, the Duda Farm Fresh Foods team will share how the company is reinventing celery with convenience.
‘Cuties’ highlights summer citrus offerings from Sun Pacific
“Cuties” brand Clementines and Mandarins from Sun Pacific are available to retailers during the summer months for the first time, according to a press release, which states, “Summer Cuties are making their debut from June through October to satisfy warm weather cravings for this sweet, easy-to-peel fresh fruit.”
Netting, falcons help reduce blueberry crop losses for Rainier Fruit Co.
Rainier Fruit Co., headquartered in Yakima, WA, has undertaken two biological protection strategies designed to minimize blueberry crop losses attributed to wildlife.
“Organic and conventional producers alike deal with local birds and other wildlife feeding on their fruit when it matures,” Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter told The Produce News.
“Many can lose a substantial amount of their crop to hungry birds,” she continued. “First, we completely enclosed our ranches in netting.”
Field tours to kick off 2014 PMA Foodservice Conference
PMA Foodservice Conference attendees will get a fresh look at leading crops on an exclusive visit to some of Salinas Valley’s fields and facilities on the Behind the Scenes: Field & Plant Tour. In addition to facility tours, registrants will get a field-to-fork perspective of these crops as they learn growing, picking, packing and culinary preparation tips.
Potential West Coast dock strike looms
The six-year contract that West Coast dock workers have been operating under expired today, July 1, without a new contract, and although negotiations are continuing the possibility of a strike looms large.
Obama pledges to bypass Congress on immigration reform
WASHINGTON — With the House unlikely to vote on immigration reform, President Obama announced Monday he’s exploring executive actions to fixing immigration problems.
In the White House Rose Garden, Obama said yesterday that Republicans in the House have refused an up-or-down vote on immigration reform, and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) informed him last week there would be no vote on the issue this year.
To-Jo spotlights its business with Farm Star Living
Farm Star Living, a lifestyle brand that celebrates American farming, farmers and food, recently partnered with To-Jo Mushrooms, a fourth-generation family-owned-and-operated mushroom farm that grows and distributes a full line of fresh and prepared mushroom products.