Jan DeLyser assumes chairmanship of PMA
On Oct. 25 produce industry veteran Jan DeLyser officially assumed the role of chairman of the Produce Marketing Association, as the association kicked off Fresh Summit 2012 with a theme of “Say Hello to the Future.”
Ms. DeLyser begins her PMA chairmanship nearly a quarter-century after she first volunteered for PMA as a member of the education committee in 1988, when she was working at the Fresh Produce & Floral Council.
Produce and floral veteran Douglas Bernard dies at 69
Dale (Doug) Bernard, a produce and floral industry veteran who was known for his work in importing and distributing fresh chili peppers in the United States and Canada, died Oct. 24 in Miami. He was 69.
Starting in 1968, Mr. Bernard became active in a business venture in El Salvador, Pavos S.A., which produced and marketed frozen turkeys throughout the Central American market. He remained an active part of this business through the end of his life.
Consumers are driving food culture change
ANAHEIM, CA — The food culture in America is changing, and the fresh produce industry is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the changing desires of consumers.
That was one of the topics discussed at a workshop held Friday, Oct. 26, during the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit, here.
Foxy partners with PBS show for organic veggie sponsorship
The Nunes Co. has signed an exclusive sponsorship agreement for organic vegetables with public television's No. 1 cooking show, “America's Test Kitchen,” for 2013.
New acquisitions give Homegrown Organics year-round lemon program
“We have just started a year-round lemon program. That is new for Homegrown organic Farms,” said Scott Mabs, director of marketing.
The expanded lemon program was made possible with the acquisition of some new ranches in Southern California, he said. “We now have lemons in all three [California] districts. It will allow us to continue a lemon program year round for our customers.”
Mariani Nut Co. offers new store-ready high-graphic pallet display
Mariani Nut Co. in Winters, CA, which specializes in California walnuts, California almonds and pecans from various parts of the United States, has seen broader use of its products for a variety of applications throughout the year in recent years than in times past. Still, they remain “a core item for the holiday season,” according to Matt Mariani, who oversees the company’s sales and marketing activities.
“We are fortunate now that our items do sell year round,” he said, “but the holidays are still a very important time, and it is definitely our peak selling season.”
NFL’s Brian Mitchell walks the walk with ‘Fuel Up to Play 60’
Long before he became a television and radio personality, before he set seven National Football League records that still stand, before he was a three-time All-Pro, before he helped Washington win Super Bowl XXVI, before he was drafted into the league, before he set records in the NCAA — even before he entered the hallowed halls of the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette — Brian Mitchell was a kid at the family dinner table.
And on that table every day were homecooked meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Ready Pac introduces new fall-winter fresh-cut fruit selections
Ready Pac has launched a new ready-to-serve fresh-cut fruit products. The new items feature seasonal fruits rarely — if ever — seen in the fresh-cut produce category, including pears, oranges and kumquats.
Bayer CropScience continues integration of Biologics unit
ANAHEIM, CA — In August, Bayer CropScience completed its purchase of AgraQuest, Inc., a global supplier of innovative biological pest management solutions, and four months later the integration of that company is progressing well, which should result in more crop-protection tools in the not-so-distant future for the specialty crop industry.
The Retail View: Study shows berries will continue to prosper
Rabobank, which is a major player in agricultural lending, has forecast that the current booming trend for berry sales in the United States will continue at a 7 percent annual growth rate over the next three years. And that view has support within the industry.
On Nov. 1, Rabobank’s Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory group released a report, titled “The U.S. Fresh Berry Boom — Who Will Profit from the Growth?”