CPMA off to a roaring start
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s annual Convention & Trade Show is off to a great start in beautiful Vancouver. The buzz from the busy trade show floor is evident, as CPMA’s expected 3,700 guests hold business meetings, catch up with old friends and look for new products — all good things for this year’s exhibitors.
Richard Ruiz a strong believer in mission of PBH
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Richard Ruiz sat in a comfortable chair in the grand lobby of the Scottsdale Hilton Resort & Spa. It was March 18 and there was a brief afternoon break in the schedule of the March 17-19 annual conference of the Produce for Better Health Foundation.
HAB: Sharp growth in avocado sales in Calif. market for Fourth of July
A recently published consumer purchase behavior study by the Hass Avocado Board in Irvine, CA, examined trends in avocado volume and avocado dollar sales at retail for 13 key holidays and special events throughout the year.
Customized Brokers gearing up for Chilean asparagus, citrus and avocado imports
“Chile had many issues this season, including strikes, weather and the implementation of new requirements for Chilean blueberries by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service due to detections of European Grapevine Moth or Lobesia botrana,” said Nelly Yunta, vice president of sales, marketing and customer care, liner and logistics business groups for Crowley Maritime Corporation in Jacksonville, FL, and vice president of Customized Brokers, the customs brokerage and consulting division located in Miami.
Veg shippers look for some silver linings in the clouds
It’s been a tough winter for Western vegetable shippers but several cold fronts going through California as producers shift from the desert to both Central and Coastal California just might make for a strong spring marketing period.
Joe Ange, assistant purchasing director for Markon Cooperative Inc., Salinas, CA, told The Produce News on Tuesday, April 1, “We are seeing a few higher quotes for forward pricing.”
Dole launches six new salad kits and blends
Dole Fresh Vegetables of Monterey, CA, today announced the addition of six new salad kits and blends: two additions to the DOLE All Natural Chopped Salad line introduced last year; a new addition to Dole’s line of Caesar salad kits; and an entirely new line of super greens.
Whole Foods Market acquires four New Frontiers Natural Marketplace stores
New Frontiers Natural Marketplace and Whole Foods Market Inc. announced that Whole Foods Market will purchase four stores from New Frontiers.
Fresh Insights: Building a brand requires healthy roots
Consistent quality, supply and service over time are keys to building a true brand. When these healthy brand “roots” are in place, consumers begin to view a brand positively, enabling the brand to roll out new offerings. A brand’s growth happens because of healthy roots, including quality, supply and service.
It’s easy to make a comparison with how healthy tree rootstock is used by fruit and nut growers to establish superior orchards.
IPO’s second Global Conference
The Second meeting of the International Pineapple Organization Global Pineapple Conference March 19-20, hosted by the Port Tampa Bay and sponsored by Ports America & CSX Railroad, was an opportunity to showcase the expansion plans and the interest by Port Tampa Bay and its partners. Among the Port Tampa Bay’s plans is a multimodal refrigerated Rail Trans shipment project that is currently in its design stage.
Successful South African citrus export program heads into 15th year
Representatives committed to the success of South Africa’s summer citrus export program to the United States gathered in the heart of one of South Africa’s citrus-growing regions in late March. The annual planning session included growers, exporters, U.S.-based importers, shipping partners, receivers and service providers, and government representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, as well as Vangile Titi-Msumza, South Africa Minister of Agriculture to the U.S., and Erica Barks- Ruggles, the U.S.