Good Old Days: December 20, 2012
10 Years Ago
Stone fruit and berry importers expressed optimism as the Chilean season in North America gained momentum. Cherry production was another bright spot as increased volume was resulting in more retail promotions. Meanwhile, importers of Chilean grapes were anticipating a season with good volume and good quality.
20 Years Ago
Handy Candy launches organic line with Southern California retailer
Handy Candy offers an innovative new way to enjoy the sweetness of a grape tomato with the introduction of its Handy Candy grape tomatoes, now available in an organic option as well.
All Handy Candy products are conveniently packed in a four-ounce resealable biodegradable cup.
Greenpoint offers wide array of products, some new items this year
Greenpoint Distributing Inc. in Nogales, AZ, offers a wide assortment of products and has added several new items to the mix this year. In addition, the company has increases in some items for the 2012-13 Nogales season, according to Rick Burkett, sales director for the company. “I’ve got a plateful of commodities,” Mr. Burkett said. “We have a little bit of everything for all parts of the country and all ethnic groups. We’ll see if we can take advantage of our position, offering a full line to make it easy for our customers to load in one spot.”
Mastronardi serving up delicious samplings during holiday retail demos
“We have a variety of in-store demos scheduled with major retailers throughout North America during the holiday season,” said Chris Veillon, director of marketing for Mastronardi Produce, headquartered in Leamington, ON. “The on-site demos are a huge hit in providing new options to customers who have not tasted our products before.”
Mr. Veillon added that retailers tend to “dress up” their produce departments with holiday decorations to add a festive touch to the product demos. The demos typically include coupons for the company’s “Sunset” brand products.
USDA predicts decrease to 2012-13 citrus crop
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said its estimate of the 2012-13 Florida citrus crop has decreased more than 5 percent to 146 million boxes. The majority of the decrease will occur in early-mid varieties, which declined 7 million boxes to 67 million from the USDA's initial October estimate. Valencias decreased 1 million boxes to 79 million boxes.
The USDA makes its first estimate in October of each year and revises it monthly as the crop takes shape until the end of the season in July.
Desnoyers takes on new Oppy role
When Audrey Desnoyers first joined the produce industry, she was hired to drive a bright green Volkswagen Beetle around the eastern United States as part of a team that introduced consumers to a new brand of kiwifruit. Now, after nearly 15 years spent driving sales of Oppy products, she has been named as The Oppenheimer Group's new national business development manager.
Lone Star State is doing more with less, despite ag difficulties
Texas is losing farmland at the rate of 200 acres a day. At the same time, the state’s agricultural population is graying. Drought is a constant worry and an omnipresent threat. Yet the Lone Star State is doing more with less, feeding a growing population and much of the rest of the country via produce grown in the state or in neighboring Mexico and distributed through a vast network that stretches from the heart of the Rio Grande Valley to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas’s gateway to the rest of America.
The Great Big Idaho Potato Truck helps usher in early potato season at Northern California retailer
With summer-like temperatures still holding on in the Sacramento area in October, the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck rolled into town for a stop at a Raley’s location. The timing of the visit was significant, as it helped the retailer gear up for the fall season, when potatoes occupy a more prominent position in its merchandising efforts.
Consumer feedback leads Wish Farms to boost organic acreage
Wish Farms, a leading grower-shipper of strawberries and year-round supplier of blueberries, attributes some of this year's growing decisions to consumer feedback.
FPFC holiday luncheon
Kelly Craner of B&C Fresh Sales with Yolanda Guerrero of City Of Hope.