Fresno Food Expo spotlights San Joaquin Valley food producers
FRESNO, CA — In its third year, the Fresno Food Expo, held here March 14, attracted 643 buyers who came to see 125 exhibitors of food products, including over 30 fresh produce suppliers.
Next year the show should expand to more than 300 exhibitors by pursuing fresh produce companies and moving the 2014 expo date to July.
California grapes reach milestone surpassing 100 million boxes shipped
California shipped a record 101.5 million boxes (100.1 million 19-pound box equivalents) of fresh California grapes during the 2012 season.
The 2012 season started with shipments in early May and continued through January 2013. California produces 99 percent of the commercial fresh grapes grown in the United Sates.
"Grapes from California are a popular choice in the U.S. and around the world," Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission, based in Fresno, said in a press release.
JemD opening greenhouse facility in Virginia
JemD Farms, a leading greenhouse vegetable grower based in Leamington, ON, is adding to its greenhouse farm portfolio with a state-of-the-art farm and distribution center in Virginia.
The new project was announced March 15 during a press conference by Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell. The US operation will add to the company's current 400-plus acres of production. The U.S. operation will be located in the town of Dublin, VA, and will be harvested and marketed under the "Red Sun" label.
HLB Specialties expanding growing partner network
“The more people travel and are exposed to new products, the greater the chances that they will buy those exotic items to share with their family and friends,” said Homero Levy de Barros, president and chief executive officer of HLB Specialties in Pompano Beach, FL. “At HLB, we feel it is our job to provide information on how the fruit should be handled, prepared and eaten. And it also helps to keep the nutritional value of tropical fruits in the forefront of our customers’ and consumers’ minds.”
Production base increase expected to give McDaniel Fruit record production
McDaniel Fruit Co. in Fallbrook, CA, a four-generation family business that began in 1947, anticipates “pretty much a record volume this year” in its California avocado program “given the fact that we have been growing in our grower base, and our own production base has been growing” as well, said President Rankin McDaniel in an interview with The Produce News Feb. 21.
BC Hot House member expands with new specialty tomato facility
Creekside Hot House, a member of the BC Hot House family of growers, has expanded its focus on specialty crops with an additional 10 acres of glass greenhouses in South Surrey, BC. This facility will focus on growing specialty tomato varieties with Big Taste that include Pink Blushers, Sweet Cherry on the Vine, Colourful Gem medley mix, Tastini grape tomatoes, Roma, Beefsteak and tomatoes-on-the-vine.
PMA honors Kathleen Merrigan’s work with the fresh produce industry
In response to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan’s departure, which was announced by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Bryan Silbermann, president and chief executive officer of the Produce Marketing Association, issued the following statement :
Muzzi Family Farms launches
After cooling, processing and shipping vegetables for nearly 30 years, the owners of Watsonville Produce in Moss Landing, CA, have expanded into direct sales of fresh and frozen produce through the creation of Muzzi Family Farms LLC.
Muzzi Family Farms recently opened a sales office in Salinas, CA, and will team with D'Arrigo Bros. of California, effective April 1, on a deal to use the D'Arrigo cooler on Harris Road in Salinas.
Third annual ATPC draws record numbers with hot-button topics
McALLEN, TX — With record attendance, hot-button topics, government and industry VIPs from the U.S. and Mexico and a new business expo component, the third annual America Trades Produce Conference, held here March 6-8 at the McAllen Convention Center, displayed deepening dialogue and a new willingness on the part of participants to forego surface formalities, roll up their sleeves and go to work to take advantage of the increasingly important influx of produce from south of the border into the United States.
Dole urges consumers to 'Peel the Love' during year-long initiative to promote bananas
After years of encouraging Americans to grill, bake, mash, blend, spread and split bananas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, Dole is delivering a far simpler message to fans of the country's most popular fruit in 2013: Peel the Love.