United Fresh 2013 New Product Award finalists
More than 30 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations are up for United Fresh Produce Association’s 2013 New Product Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of best new products at United Fresh 2013, May 14-16 in San Diego.
FPFC sells out expo
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council, which pioneered the concept of regional trade shows more than 25 years ago, held its Northern California Expo April 10 at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA.
Produce groups ask FDA for more time to comment on FSMA rules
WASHINGTON — The May 16 deadline set by the Food & Drug Administration to comment on sweeping food-safety changes to farms and processing facilities is impossible to meet, the United Fresh Produce Association and more than 80 other groups told FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg in an April 11 letter asking for a deadline extension.
Cherry bloom looking good in Pacific Northwest
One sign of springtime in the Pacific Northwest is a cherry orchard in full bloom, and Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, reported such an event is now taking place.
Oneonta Marketing Director Scott Marboe said April 10 that this year’s Northwest bloom portends good things to come.
Colorado potato grower-shippers dealing with drought, prices and supplies
Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee based in Monte Vista, CO, said in early April that that low market prices and water restrictions will result in fewer potato acres in the San Luis Valley this year.
With an early start and yields up 50 percent, Rio Queen rides into Texas deal at full speed
The Texas onion season got off to such an early start for Rio Queen LLC of Mission, TX, that Mike Martin did not even know what kind of market he was heading into. Already the Lone Star State’s largest onion grower, Mr. Martin decided during the offseason to go against the grain and increase his plantings significantly this year.
The gamble has paid off as Texas is cruising into a solid onion market as Northwest storage supplies and fresh Mexican product are dwindling.
Creekside Hot House has flourished under Ravi Cheema
Creekside Hot House recently announced it will add a 10-acre specialty tomato facility in South Surrey, BC.
The family-run farm is headed by Ravi Cheema, a fourth-generation farmer. “My dad started farming in Canada back in 1977, when he was growing strawberries and raspberries,” Mr. Cheema said. “He eventually moved into a variety of outdoor crops, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and sprouts.”
Union Pacific Railroad promotes Brenda Mainwaring
BRENDA MAINWARING will be promoted to Union Pacific Railroad's vice president of public affairs for the Southern Region, effective April 15, succeeding Joe Adams, who will retire May 31.
Ms. Mainwaring joined the railroad in 1997, serving as director of public affairs for Iowa and Nebraska since 2007. She worked in Washington, DC, with the U.S. government prior to joining Union Pacific.Ms. Mainwaring earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in anthropology from the University of Iowa.
Domestic season off to a slow start due to cool weather; imports meet demand as production ramps up
Cool weather has delayed or slowed watermelon production in the southern United States and consumption in northern states, but steady supplies from farther south have been adequate to meet demand as the Florida and Texas deals come on in earnest this month.
U.S. summer season forecast
WeatherBug is forecasting a summer season similar to 2012 for much of the continental United States. For summer 2013, it indicated a distinct threat for above-normal temperatures from west Texas across the Great Plains into the central and Southern Rockies, and across the Mid-South. Areas around the Great Lakes and the Southeast coast should favor near-normal seasonal temperatures. Only one small pocket of slightly cooler-than-normal conditions is expected along the coast of the Pacific Northwest.