California is golden as growers move into pear production season
California pear growers couldn't have ordered up better conditions for the 2013 production season.
"[The 2013 crop] is progressing well," said Kyle Persky, sales manager at Scully Packing Co. LLC. "We have had no major issues affecting the crop."
David Thiessen, sales manager for David J. Elliot & Sons Co. in Courtland, CA, agreed. "Weather has been pretty much perfect for growing pears," he told The Produce News.
DNE kicks off Australian citrus season
DNE World Fruit LLC kicked off its 2013 Australian summer citrus program with the recent arrival of the first vessel into the port of Long Beach in California.
The season will run from late June through October starting with Daisies and Navels. Daisies will peak on size 70s followed by 54s. Peak promotion period for Daisies will run early July through early August.
Australian Navels will begin arriving early July but due to intermittent rains heavier volume won't arrive until later in July.
USDA's new school snack standards look to boost healthy offerings
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its new Smart Snacks in School standards that seek to improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages offered for sale to students in schools.
"Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "Parents and schools work hard to give our youngsters the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong, and providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines and snack bars will support their great efforts."
Produce industry praises Senate for immigration vote, urges House to act
WASHINGTON—The agricultural industry wasted no time hailing the Senate for passing, by a 68-32 vote, an immigration reform bill on June 27, but the focus quickly shifts to the House and a July 10 meeting where the House Republican leadership will carve out next steps for immigration reform.
Ciruli Bros. launches new website to promote fresh mangos
Ciruli Bros. LLC recently unveiled a new website as part of its ongoing efforts to boost consumer education about fresh mangos.
"Our intent with the new www.champagnemango.com is to provide our customers with more information about mangos, including selection tips and preparation ideas so they can be better acquainted with the fruit and help drive more sales," Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer of Nogales, AZ-based Ciruli Bros., said in a press release.
California Giant brings a taste of Wimbledon to New York
New Yorkers almost forgot what city they were in this week as they experienced a real grass tennis court, tennis pros, and real fresh strawberries and cream right in the middle of Manhattan.
California Giant Berry Farms, based in Watsonville, CA, partnered with HSBC Bank to bring the complete Wimbledon experience to locals and tourists in downtown Manhattan across from Madison Square Park facing the iconic Flat Iron Building.
Do alternate varieties offer opportunities for California avocado growers?
It’s no secret that the Hass avocado is the darling of the world. More than 50 years ago, California growers began planting the variety and Mexico followed suit as it eyed the U.S. market, as did Peru and Chile. Colombia began adding Hass acreage to its prodigious supply of native avocados about a decade ago, and it is now also trying to gain access to the lucrative U.S. marketplace.
But is the Hass avocado really the only avocado that consumers will eat?
Mesilla Valley Produce LLC expecting typical onion deal
T.J. Runyan, owner of Mesilla Valley Produce LLC in Las Cruces, NM, said the company’s onion volume this season will be comparable to 2012. “It has been a good growing season weather-wise so far,” he told The Produce News.
“I expect volume to be very comparable to last year. I expect size to be a little smaller than normal on the front end of the deal. But it will improve as the season progresses,” he said.
Rainier Fruit Co. blueberry volume spiking in 2013
The news about blues has Rainier Fruit Co. in the pink. “We expect to pack upwards of five million pounds this year, about 30 percent more than last year,” said Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter. “Producing acreage is stable and the maturing bushes continue to increase production tonnage.”
With its headquarters in Yakima, WA, Rainier is one of the premiere fruit producers in the Pacific Northwest.
N.Y. continues to rank fifth nationally for value of fresh market vegetables
This past January, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released annual summaries for the 2012 season for vegetables and fruits grown in New York.
The value of principal fresh market vegetables in 2012 increased 22 percent when compared to 2011. The value of tree fruit, berry and grape production was down 6 percent during 2012.