Gourmet Trading selects FoodLink for produce traceability
FoodLink, a leading provider of supply chain and commerce solutions for the fresh food industry, based in Los Gatos, CA, announced March 4 that Gourmet Trading Co., a leading distributor of fresh asparagus in North America, will implement the company's produce traceability solution on all packed and shipped produce within the United States.
Paramount Citrus expanding processing capacity for Halos
Paramount Citrus will increase the capacity at its Wonderful Halos plant in Delano, CA, by 75 percent to meet increasing demand for the fruit, according to a company press release.
The expansion at the plant, which is already among the largest and most advanced citrus packinghouse in the world, will enable Paramount to process more than 52 million Mandarins a day.
Dole partners with Meijer on salad bar donation
Committed to increasing healthier options for students, Dole Food Co. and Meijer have partnered to donate salad bars to five public schools in Detroit, Cincinnati and South Bend, IN. These self-serve produce bars will feature a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables to boost new choices for students at breakfast and lunch.
Mastronardi keeps winter tomato supply going with Michigan-grown product
Despite the harsh winter that has occurred in much of the United States, Mastronardi Produce has continued to keep the supply of fresh, flavorful tomatoes going with its Michigan-grown product.
Mastronardi grows fresh tomatoes-on-the-vine and grape tomatoes 365 days a year at its facility in Coldwater, MI. This state-of-the-art, high-tech greenhouse has been operating since 2012 and uses grow lights to produce fresh tomatoes year round, even when there's snow on the ground.
California Giant acreage is steady in Oxnard, up in Santa Maria
Like many California strawberry growers, California Giant Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA, grows strawberries in three districts in California: Oxnard, Santa Maria and Watsonville. This year, the company’s acreage in Oxnard is “pretty much the same as last year,” according to Cindy Jewell, marketing director.
Dealing with new suspension agreement biggest change for Bernardi
A new tomato anti-dumping suspension agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the U.S. Commerce Department, that went into effect last year mid-season, raised the minimum price on tomatoes from Mexico coming in to U.S. markets, with the increases being significantly higher for some tomato categories than for others. The current tomato season is the first full season for which the new agreement, superseding a previous agreement that had been in place for 16 years.
Federated Capital acquiring Cold Train
Federated Railways Inc., an affiliate of Federated Capital Corp., has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Rail Logistics LC., including its "Cold Train" Express Intermodal Service.
The new subsidiary will be called "Federated Cold Train LLC" and will conduct business as Cold Train. The company will maintain its current management team and staff, including Steve Lawson as president and chief executive officer, and will retain its current headquarters located in Overland Park, KS.
North America’s explosive demand for ethnic foods
Consider just a few obvious facts of current times that are and will continue to influence the fresh produce industry profoundly.
First, we know from reports from the U.S. Census Bureau that the Hispanic population is the fastest-growing consumer category in North America today. The 2010 Census reported that the U.S. Hispanic population surged 43 percent, rising to 50.5 million in 2010 from 35.3 million in 2000. In 2010, Latinos constituted 16 percent of the nation’s total population of the then 308.7 million.
California rains disrupt strawberry, vegetable harvests, but don't end drought
The worst drought in a century in California was eased somewhat by several inches of rain across the state and considerable snow in some mountain areas from Wednesday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 2, but it was a mixed blessing in some growing areas, particularly for strawberries and vegetables along the central and southern coast.
Terry Vorhees 'very pleased' with 2014 Southern Exposure
The Southeast Produce Council has completed what is surely another hugely successful event — its 2014 conference and trade show — with record overall attendance, including record attendance by members of the retail and foodservice sector, all leading SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees to state, "I'm very pleased."