Canadian potato industry dealing with oversupply, innovation strategies
The Canadian Horticultural Council’s Potato Committee will be meeting during the CHC’s annual general meeting to be held in Ottawa March 12-15. Topics the committee will likely address during the annual meeting include regulatory and trade issues, plant health, research and food safety. Members of the committee and the chair of the Canadian Potato Council will also be appointed at the annual general meeting.
Hanford leaks not posing food contamination threat to Washington, Oregon
Federal and state government officials do not anticipate groundwater supplies from the Columbia River will be adversely affected by the seepage of radioactive waste from storage tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in south-central Washington.
CPAC springs ahead with warm weather promos
Continuing to promote its more than 100 varieties of spuds during its Five Distinct Potato Seasons campaign, the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee has launched the "Spring Ahead" season for March through May.
Prime Time and Vantaggio form marketing agreement
Prime Time International and Vantaggio Farming Corp. have formed a strategic marketing alliance whereby Prime Time will be the exclusive marketer of Vantaggio's line of fresh produce items, including cucumbers and four varieties of hard squash.
Spice World prepped to launch spring promotions with ‘Grill Garlic-Q’
Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, told The Produce News that the company will be showcasing its full line of garlic products with a highlight on its “Grill Garlic-Q” barbeque sauces at the upcoming Southern Exposure Retail & Foodservice Conference & Expo at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL, on Feb. 28-March 2.
Greenpoint lost corn to freeze, expects good production of other spring items
Greenpoint Distributing LLC in Nogales, AZ, lost “probably over 300 hectares” or around 750 acres of sweet corn in the freeze that hit northern Mexico in mid-January, resulting in the loss of “over 300 truckloads of corn that we would have been receiving in the spring,” said Rick Burkett, sales director for the company.
But apart from that, the company’s other spring crops should be at normal production or better, Mr. Burkett said Feb. 8.
Sale of dehy potato business will enable Nonpareil to focus on fresh
Nonpareil Farms, a Blackfoot, ID-based grower-packer-marketer of fresh potatoes, has entered into a letter of intent for the sale of its dehydrated potato business to Basic American Foods.
Nonpareil said the sale would enable it to focus on its rapidly growing fresh produce brand.
Both Basic American Foods and Nonpareil Farms are working toward negotiating the various agreements involved in the transaction and anticipate the process to take eight to 10 weeks to conclude and finalize the documents.
Greenhouse firms among Canada's Best Managed Companies
Two leading Canadian greenhouse growers were among Canada's Best Managed Companies, a national awards program recognizing Canadian companies that have implemented world-class business practices and created value in innovative ways.
Keystone has new and exciting things on its R&D table
Mike Blume, sales representative for Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc., headquartered in Greencastle, PA, said that the company is exhibiting at the Southern Exposure Retail & Foodservice Conference & Expo being held this year at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL, on Feb. 28-March 2.
Ed Bertaud to receive Rising Star Award at ATPC
Ed Bertaud, the Houston-based director of business development for the Pallet Management Division of IFCO Systems N.A. Inc. and chairman of the Texas International Produce Association, will be the recipient of the second annual Rising Star Award, which will be presented by The Produce News at the America Trades Produce conference, scheduled for March 6-8 in McAllen, TX.