Lisa ups pickle acreage 20 percent, moves all Romas under shade
In general, “our program really hasn’t changed” at Lisa Inc. in Nogales, AZ, according to Sales Manager John Lichter. The company just continues “trying to do a good job and take care of customers and doing the best we can” to grow the products.
But while there may not be much new at Lisa, there are a couple of noteworthy exceptions.
Pickles have long been one of Lisa’s core items, and this year, “we increased our pickle acreage a little bit — about 20 percent,” he said.
U.S. fruit and vegetable imports growing larger by the year
A September 2007 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, compiled by Sophia Huang and Kuo Huang, states that U.S. imports of fresh fruit and vegetables have increased substantially, particularly since the 1990s.
Dominant suppliers are the North American Free Trade Agreement region for fresh vegetables, the Southern Hemisphere countries for off-season fresh fruit and equatorial countries for bananas.
Citrus veteran Hank Beyer dies at 84
Longtime Los Angeles produce industry veteran Henry (Hank) Beyer died Nov. 25 at his home in Sherman Oaks, CA. He was 84.
For more than 40 years, Mr. Beyer worked on the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, much of the time as a partner with Sam Perricone in Perricone Citrus.
Chilean blueberries lining up nicely for volume increases
On Nov. 15, or week 46 of the Chilean blueberry movement, the crop report issued by the Chilean Blueberry Committee, headquartered in Sonoma, CA, stated that the blueberry season was developing normally and without major weather issues affecting production. The report also indicated that more orchards in the country were being incorporated into the harvest to allow for higher export volume, resulting in a projection of greater shipments. It further stated that from week 48 onward, the projections were at over 3,500 tons weekly.
Edinburg Citrus Sales Manager Ruben Shives, former USDA inspector and Safeway buyer, dies at 55
Ruben Shives, sales manager for the Edinburg Citrus Association and a former U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector in the Rio Grande Valley and a Safeway buyer and inspector in various locations across the country, died Nov. 20 following an illness. He was 55.
Mr. Shives began his sales career with ECA in 1995 and over the years was a driving force in the company, well known in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and beyond.
Baloian Farms adds to specialty packs
Baloian Farms has partnered with Seminis Seed as the exclusive West Coast supplier of BellaFina baby Bell peppers.
“Consumer research often indicates that consumers are looking for more affordable, value-added and portion controlled products and BellaFina baby Bell peppers do just that by providing a more versatile bell pepper food experience,” Jeremy Lane, sales manager at Baloian Farms, said in a press release.
QPMA holds annual Oyster Party
QPMA Executive Director Sophie Perreault and Sebastien Alix of Pommes Ma-
Fresh Directions
Desert row-crop shippers report modest to moderate demand on most key items. Oxnard celery shippers report brisk demand on light volume. Northwest onion demand is strong and the market continues to have a very strong undertone. Russet supplies far outpace demand.
ICEBERG LETTUCE
Dieters’ New Year resolutions will spur strong second half for DNE
DNE World Citrus Sales in Fort Pierce, FL, had an excellent first half of its season and is now looking for a post-holiday surge for its grapefruit and other midseason citrus varieties, according to Florida Citrus Sales Manager Kevin Swords.
Ciruli expands Bell pepper and hot pepper programs
Ciruli Bros. LLC in Nogales, AZ, has increased production in two areas in its vegetable program over the last couple of seasons, according to Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer.
One area of increase is in bell peppers, he said. “We are seeing really good demand on hothouse red peppers, and we have backed that up with mixing in open field Le Rouge reds. That will put us in [the market] with more red peppers in a little bit different style. It seems like red peppers are a very hot item whether it be foodservice or retail.”