Outlook 2014: Captain to engine room for new year: Full steam ahead!
Swing for the fences in 2014. Our industry has come a long way from the debacle years of 2008-09. We have steadily dug ourselves out of the recession and now have a full head of steam. It is now time to be optimistic and aggressive in our sales and marketing. Let there be no holds barred.
Changing of the guard in Floral Marketing
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Richard Lutes and I am the new floral editor and floral sales manager for The Produce News. I come to this position after a diverse career in several segments of the floral industry. I have worked in sales, operations, marketing, procurement and management for a number of wholesalers, growers and retailers.
New York Apple Association in even better shape than numbers indicate
“We know that we’re in really good shape this year,” Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, based in Victor’s hamlet of Fishers, NY, told The Produce News in early December. “The problem is coming up with a credible crop number. Currently U.S. apple storage figures show that New York has about 12 million bushels in storage for both processing and fresh. We feel that this number is grossly underestimated.
Central American Produce launches hard squash program
Central American Produce has received its first shipment of Mayan Pride butternut squash from its farms in Guatemala. Shipments of spaghetti squash will start arriving to the United States by Jan. 7.
Gourmet Trading Co. at peak of Chilean blueberry season
"Gourmet Trading Co. handles conventional and organic blueberries out of Chile," said Luciano Fiszman, procurement manager for the Los Angeles-based leading supplier of year-round high-quality fruits and vegetables. "We will also have some Chilean asparagus this season."
Customized Brokers says several Chilean produce items are currently at peak movement
"Our streamlined process refers to our state-of-the-art, Web-based systems that allow customers to track the status of their cargo 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Nelly Yunta, vice president of sales, marketing and customer care, liner and logistics business groups for Crowley Maritime Corp. in Jacksonville, FL, and vice president of Customized Brokers, the customs brokerage and consulting division located in Miami. "Fresh produce is time-sensitive; it has a short shelf life. Having a streamlined processing facilities the release and distribution of our customers' cargo."
Blueberries have earned a place in Florida agriculture
Twenty years ago the thought of a major blueberry festival or a scientific training center honoring the fruit would have been unthinkable in Florida. Mainly because 20 years ago there was little to celebrate or research.
Washington, Oregon unite to sponsor 2014 annual conference
Potato producers in the Pacific Northwest should once again mark their calendars for the upcoming 2014 Washington-Oregon Potato Conference to be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA.
Vilsack says U.S.-China talks show progress in gaining market access for apples, California citrus
WASHINGTON — Progress is being made in negotiations to reopen China's market for Washington apples and California citrus, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said after high-level talks wrapped up between U.S. and China in Beijing.
Vilsack reported progress on trade issues from the 24th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce & Trade, which was co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman with China's Vice Premier Wang Yang.
APHIS implementing new requirements for the importation of fresh blueberries from Chile
The Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that is responsible for protecting animal health, animal welfare and plant health, has issued a notice that it is implementing new requirements for the importation of fresh blueberries from Chile into the United States, according to Miami-based Customized Brokers, a division of Crowley Maritime Corp.