NAPMM’s Tommy Crochet dies
Thomas (Tommy) Crochet, a board member of the National Association of Produce Market Managers, died on June 2, due to complications from a fall the previous weekend.
Early start, smooth transition seen for San Joaquin Valley grapes
The spring grape deals out of Sonora, Mexico, and California’s Coachella Valley both got off to an early start this year and are expected to finish earlier than usual for most varieties, but grape shippers anticipate a smooth transition from those districts into the San Joaquin Valley as the early vineyards in the San Joaquin are also ahead of schedule.
Giumarra Nogales ships first watermelon load via rail
As part of its effort to explore alternate transportation methods, Giumarra announces its first load of product delivered by railroad: watermelons.
Giumarra Nogales shipped watermelons grown in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico to Jessup, MD, by 50-foot refrigerated railcar in May. This marks one of the first time in decades produce grown in Mexico was shipped via train.
Exp Group adding organic bananas
Emil Serafino, vice president of Exp Group LLC, said the company continues to make improvements designed to benefit its customer base. “We expect to add organic bananas to our line this year,” he told The Produce News. “From our warehouse right now, we only sell full containers direct to the chains. This will give us the flexibility to sell to smaller customers that buy by the pallet. And we continue to also ripen plantain for our ethnic community costumers. In 2015, we also expect to introduce our own brand.
Thermal Technolgies executive: Ripening plays key role in new banana supply chain
The changing nature of banana marketing in recent years has placed a new emphasis on quality control.
“Strict quality control is the number one conversation among our customers,” David Byrne, vice president of sales for Thermal Technologies, one of the industry’s larger designers and installers of produce ripening rooms, said in a company press release. “Working with some of North America’s largest retailers, we’ve found that the emphasis has become less about sourcing and more about quality and consistency at the point-of-sale.”
Mann Packing launches new Family Favorites packages
Mann Packing, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year as a grower-shipper-processor, redesigned its full line of fresh vegetable packaging to be more consumer focused and better represent the company’s third generation of family farmers.
Locus Traxx-LoJack partnership addresses threats to supply chain and cargo
SC-integrity Inc., a subsidiary of LoJack Corp., and Locus Traxx Worldwide have announced a partnership to advance and bolster supply chain and cargo shipment security and efficiency. Together, the organizations plan to release a series of bundled tracking and information solutions based on the Locus “SmartTraxxTM GO” tracking technology.
Eastern Fresh Growers increasing asparagus acreage due to strong market
“Our asparagus acreage is up this year,” Tom Sheppard, president of Eastern Fresh Growers Inc., in Cedarville, NJ, told The Produce News. “The market is strong and prices are up. Some of the increase in demand could be related to nutrition, but another contributing factor is that other areas of the country have reduced acreage due to either weather issues or their asparagus acreage is in off-production status.”
200 schools to receive salad bars from 'Let’s Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools'
The United Fresh Produce Association announced June 11 the donation of salad bars to 200 Midwest schools in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. An estimated 100,000 Midwest students in both urban and rural school districts will benefit by having increased access to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day at school lunch. With the goal of increasing students’ fruit and vegetable consumption, the donation represents just the start of the United Fresh Foundation’s multi-year “Let’s Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools” campaign.
Prospects for immigration reform may hit roadblock with Cantor’s election loss
WASHINGTON — The stunning news that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) lost his primary bid Tuesday, June 10 may be bad news for hopes the House will take up immigration reform this year.
Cantor’s defeat stunned pundits Tuesday after he lost the Republican primary to David Brat, a Tea Party-backed candidate who works as an economics college professor.
"I think this is a scale-eight earthquake,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told CNN. “I think it will shock the Washington establishment; it will shock the House Republicans.”