FDA-regulated food facilities face new registration deadline of Dec. 31
WASHINGTON — Food shipments may be refused at U.S. ports if registered foreign food facilities do not renew their registrations with the Food & Drug Administration by Dec. 31, Amy Barringer, a director in FDA's Office of Compliance, warned during a Nov. 19 webcast.
The United Fresh Produce Association sponsored the more than an hour-long webcast on the looming facility registration requirements with David Gombas, vice president of food safety and technology at United Fresh, to keep the industry abreast of the change.
Chilean blueberry season underway for Gourmet Trading
Gourmet Trading, a North American distributor of fresh asparagus, blueberries and blackberries, announced the beginning of its Chile blueberry season.
Taylor Farms adds organic kale mixes to salad offerings
With kale rising tremendously in popularity, Salinas, CA-based Taylor Farms has added a line of kale mixes to help make the superfood a bit more consumer friendly.
The firm’s director of marketing, Christina Calcagno, said that some shoppers might be unfamiliar with the product but by blending it with more well know items, the firm is expecting that more consumers will be willing to try it.
Missouri-based Keith Connell opens new branch in booming Rio Grande Valley
Business is booming in south Texas, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by some of the produce industry’s leading players. Kansas City, MO-based Keith Connell Inc. is no exception.
The company recently launched Keith Connell Texas in Pharr to take advantage of the ever-increasing trade coming across the border.
Connell Texas just launched a few weeks ago, with Rio Grande Valley industry veteran Roy Salinas holding the reins.
“Out of the blue they contacted me and wanted to open up a branch here in Texas and asked if I was ready for a change,” Mr. Salinas said.
Giant Produce introduces caramelized onion item
Giant Produce Inc., headquartered in Parma, ID, is capitalizing on the distinctive taste of the region's signature Spanish Sweet onions and the pizazz of caramelization with the introduction of its new value-added product, Onion Valley Caramelized Onions.
"It's relatively new," Don Brown, product development manager, told The Produce News. "We started production on Sept. 15."
Virgil Rasmussen, past president of Ballantine Produce, dies at 94
Virgil E. Rasmussen, longtime president of Ballantine Produce Co. in Sanger, CA, and former board member and chairman of several table grape and tree fruit industry organizations, died peacefully at his Sanger home Sunday, Nov. 18. He was 94.
Ocean Spray reports highest net sales ever
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., a grower-owned agricultural cooperative based in Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, released its fiscal 2012 financial results, which included the highest net sales in the company's history and strong growth in net proceeds paid to its growers.
Highlights of the 2012 fiscal year ending Aug 31 include the following:
Giumarra expects increased volume of Chilean blueberries
Giumarra International Berry is preparing for the upcoming import blueberry season and expects increased volumes from the 2011-12 season.
Southern Selects shipping French beans, heirloom tomatoes
“The Florida heirloom tomato deal will be starting soon,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, told The Produce News on Oct. 17. “Our ‘Southern Selects’ brand of heirloom tomatoes are packed in single layer variety packs. We ship three varieties to each box, and each variety is selected for its flavor and color.”
Northampton Growers grateful for smooth transition and minimal weather issues
“We’re harvesting a few cucumbers and some squash in Central Florida now,” Calvert Cullen, co-owner of Northampton Growers, headquartered in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News on Oct. 19. “If we don’t have any freeze issues or other weather problems, we’ll plunge forward and go all the way into next spring in Florida.”
He added that the company will start moving peppers in South Florida around Dec. 10-15.
As of mid-October, conditions in Florida seemed to be good, but Mr. Cullen said that anything can happen when growing field vegetables.