New executive director of the PA Apple Marketing Program heads into first season with nice crop
“We are anticipating a very nice crop of apples this year, with volumes similar to the 2012 crop,” said Julie Bancroft, the newly appointed executive director for the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, on Aug. 8. “The fruit size also looks good — but not too large.”
Royal Madera Vineyards founder Steve Volpe still going strong at 90
Steve Volpe, founder and owner of Royal Madera Vineyards in Madera, CA, turned 90 on Aug. 20, but entering his 10th decade hasn't slowed him down much.
After nearly 80 years in the produce industry, Volpe still comes into the office frequently, according to his daughter, Cheryl Cerniglia, who, like many family members of the second- and third-generation, works for the company.
"We are in our harvest season," she told The Produce News in mid-August, and "he was down here again today."
Tommy Wilkins departs United Supermarkets
Tommy Wilkins, who has worked with United Supermarkets produce buying department for about two decades, left the firm Aug. 2 to seek a new challenge. A spokesman for the firm confirmed his departure and said it had no prepared statement with regard to an announcement about his replacement.
Wilkins told The Produce News Aug. 20 that he has been working with United Supermarkets since it left a wholesale grocery distributor in the early 1990s.
U.S. apple crop up 14 percent for 2013
CHICAGO — The U.S. apple crop this year is expected to total 246.5 million bushels, a figure that was formally announced Aug. 22 at the 2013 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference, held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, here.
If the estimate is accurate, this would be the 12th-largest crop in U.S. history. This crop is estimated to be 14 percent larger than the frost-decimated 2012 apple harvest. In 2012, U.S. apple volume was 215.7 million bushels, 31 million bushels below the 2013 estimate.
Peruvian onion volume up 10 percent this season
Officials from Peru estimate that the country’s 2013 Peruvian onion crop will increase by 10 percent when compared to 2012. The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the Regional Management of Agriculture of La Libertad announced on April 16 that volume is anticipated to be 40,000 tons of onions grown on more than 1,000 hectares of land.
According to Luis Díaz Vergara, this compares to a total volume in 2012 of 34,913 tons. The lion’s share of volume came from Viru, Ascope and Chepen, production provinces located in the country’s coastal region.
Valley Fruit & Produce promotes Rick Paino to sales manager
Valley Fruit & Produce, a full-line wholesaler-distributor of quality fresh fruits and vegetables based in Los Angeles, announced the promotion of Rick Paino to sales manager.
In his new position as sales manager, Paino will work with the Valley sales team to create strategies for accomplishing its sales goals, while continuing as commodity manager for the apple and pear division at Valley.
Whole Foods partners with PBS Kids on healthy eating initiative
PBS Kids and Whole Foods Market have partnered to offer families tools to support healthy eating.
Designed to leverage the educational content of PBS Kids' and Whole Foods Market's commitment to nutrition, the partnership will provide families with free resources in Whole Foods Market locations across the country, as well as online.
The effort kicks off in September with a suite of materials from PEG + CAT, PBS Kids' newest series, which focuses on preschool math and problem-solving skills and will launch Oct. 7.
2013 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference draws international industry
CHICAGO — The plush confines of Chicago's Ritz-Carlton Hotel set the tone for a highly professional and productive, yet very social, 2013 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference, held Aug. 22-23.
The Aug. 22 cocktail party gave the industry a chance to come together.
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Domex Superfresh Growers releases cherry data
Domex Superfresh Growers, a global leader in growing and marketing fresh apples, pears, cherries and apricots, announced the release of a new cherry media trend analysis.
Using a proprietary data analysis tool, the marketing department at Domex Superfresh Growers sorted through the complex media landscape and collected conversations around Rainer and dark sweet cherry varieties. The analysis captured all of the Twitter, Facebook, main news, blog, video and forum conversations around cherries from May 1 to July 31.
In The Trenches: Traditional supermarkets facing challenges
During my many road trips, I always make it a point to visit a number of supermarkets to browse through all of the departments, especially produce. My primary interest in perusing the stores is to examine the retail merchandising, since selling is the most important function of the entire operation.
As I walk throughout the stores, I have noticed a serious trend that is becoming more pronounced each and every day: The customer base is decreasing as shoppers scamper in all other directions for groceries.