Mango supplies could top 1 billion pounds this year
The mango industry continues to marvel at how supplies continue to increase yet the market remains strong. The numbers tell the story. According to the National Mango Board, mango consumption per capita in the United States increased by about one-third from 2005 to 2012, which is the last year that per capita consumption numbers were available.
Kern Ridge sees steady market
It’s been a volatile winter for vegetable supplies as a series of East Coast storms has altered consumer buying habits. Carrots, like the other vegetable items from the West Coast, are affected though it manifests itself in demand rather than pricing.
“It has been a very strange demand situation for the past six weeks,” said Chris Smotherman, who sits on the sales desk for Kern Ridge Growers LLC, which is headquartered in the southern San Joaquin Valley town of Arvin, CA. “One week has been very, very slow and the next week our capacity is being run over by demand.”
Spiech Farms expands Florida blueberry operation to 20,000-square-foot facility
Tim Spiech, chief operating officer of Spiech Farms, told The Produce News that the company recently completed its relocation to a new facility in Brooksville, FL, and it has ceased all operations at its previous Hudson, FL, location.
The new facility gives the company outstanding growth opportunities due to its large size and high-tech advancements.
California avocado crop down with later start, earlier finish expected
“We are looking forward to a great California avocado marketing season" with a crop that is expected to be more in the average range, following last year’s very large crop, Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission in Irvine, CA, told The Produce News March 4.
EPC to honor Hochberg with 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award
The Eastern Produce Council will honor Gordon M. Hochberg, vice president of The Produce News, with its 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award during its 46th annual dinner dance Saturday, April 5, at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, NJ.
Supply gap coming for California vegetables
Denny Donovan, sales manager at Fresh Kist Produce LLC in Santa Maria, CA, said everyone in the vegetable production business in California knows there is a gap coming, but just when it is going to hit appears to be a moving target.
For the better part of a week in early December, extremely cold temperatures gripped much of the state, including the Central Coast, the Salinas Valley and the San Joaquin Valley.
“On December 6, the temperatures here in Santa Maria got as low as 21 degrees,” Donovan said. “I’ve never seen it that low.”
Carrot sales continue to climb; supply outlook promising
Though it is considered a staple product and doesn’t generate an extreme amount of excitement, carrot sales have garnered considerable growth during the past year and are actually in the midst of a pretty good five-year run.
Hillary Clinton to deliver United Fresh-FMI keynote address
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the keynote speaker at a new joint general session hosted by the United Fresh Produce Association and the Food Marketing Institute this June in Chicago.
“We are honored to have Secretary Clinton as our keynote speaker for this very special event,” Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and chief executive officer, said in a press release.
Eclipse Berry Farms adds Santa Maria to program
Eclipse Berry Farms LLC in Los Angeles, which is in the strawberry business year-round with production in California and Mexico, has expanded its California program this year with production in the Santa Maria district.
“This is the first year we have been in Santa Maria,” said Stuart Gilfenbain, who handles sales at Eclipse along with Rick Hearst and Ashley Chavira.
MAS Melons & Grapes concentrates on high Brix to serve Japanese market
RIO RICO, AZ — Fruit sales in Japan are notorious for moving perfect fruit at outrageously high prices.
MAS Melons & Grapes LLC, located here, has met the challenge of selling honeydew to Japan. The process of meeting Japanese Brix requirements has opened other doors.
MAS is an acronym using the initials of the company’s 52 percent owner: Miguel Angel Suarez. In Spanish, the word “mas” means “more.” Suarez is best known by his nickname, “Miky.”
Suarez launched MAS with four Mexican grower-partners 17 years ago.