New Zealand pipfruit crop hailed as 'best this decade'
Conditions could not be better for this year's pipfruit crop from New Zealand. Peter Beaven, chief executive of Pipfruit New Zealand, is enthusiastic about this year's prospects.
"The quality of the fruit is the best this decade: clean finish, good pressures and high Brix. The fruit is eating very well and compares very favorably with other Southern Hemisphere quality," he told The Produce News in early May. "This was an excellent growing season in all parts of New Zealand. [There were] no adverse weather events."
Salmonella find leads L&M to recall cantaloupe lot
L&M Cos. Inc., based in Raleigh, NC, is recalling one lot of whole cantaloupes because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date, and the company said that it is working with the Food & Drug Aministration to inform consumers of this recall.
The whole cantaloupes were sold between May 10 and May 15 in Walmart Supercenter Stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, and in a Walmart Supercenter Store in South Hill, VA.
New Jersey secretary of agriculture celebrates New Jersey asparagus season
GREENWICH, NJ -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher sampled New Jersey asparagus from Sheppard Farms in Cedarville, eggs from Fralinger's Egg Farm in Hopewell and baked goods from the residents of Greenwich Township during the 19th annual Greenwich Fire Department Egg & Asparagus Breakfast, held May 17.
NationFresh adds industry veterans
NationFresh LLC, based in Littleton, CO, has announced the hiring of two longtime industry veterans, Wesley Rust and Larry Narwold, to the sales and marketing staff of the company.
Mr. Rust, who spent the last five years as national marketing manager for Produce Alliance, headquartered in Nashville, TN, joined the company May 4 and will work from his home in Fort Worth, TX.
New convention partners create one-of-a-kind event in Chicago
This year, the All Things Organic conference and trade show will join forces with three new show partners to create a powerhouse event focusing on evolving markets in organics, multi-culturalism, health and wellness, and specialty food. The event will be held June 16-18 at the Lakeside Center of Chicago's McCormick Place.
"This is going to be an exciting show," said Barbara Haumann, senior writer and editor for the Organic Trade Association. This show will help retailers understand what the organic standards mean and what consumers want. These are hot topics.
Apparent produce shuffle at Walmart
While Walmart Stores Inc., the nation's largest retailer, would neither confirm nor deny that it has shifted some of its key produce personnel to other departments, produce industry sources have said that the chain has reassigned produce executives and replaced them with employees from other departments.
Flair with pears nets win for culinary student
Rose Prost-Hiebert was declared National Prize Winner of the Pear Bureau Northwest's second annual "Pear Excellence" Canadian Culinary Student Recipe Competition. Ms. Prost-Hiebert, associated with the Elliott House Restaurant & Chef School, was recognized for her achievement during festivities at The Chefs House restaurant at George Brown College in Toronto. Her winning recipe, pear ginger cheesecake, garnered a $2,500 cash prize.
SK Foods and Salyer American cases in separate courts
Some clarity has emerged with regard to the financial difficulties being experienced by several agricultural firms owned principally by Scott Salyer in the past week as a number of public documents have been filed in separate court cases.
Modern Produce Farms owner dies at 78
Frank Jarocki Sr., owner and president of Modern Produce Farms in Florida, NY, died May 7 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Florida after a short illness. He was 78.
Mr. Jarocki was born to Joseph K. and Catherine Jarocki Nov. 18, 1930, in Big Island, NY. He was a lifelong resident of the village of Florida.
He was a very successful onion grower and shipper, having owned and operated Modern Produce Farms Inc. for over 60 years. His father was also a longtime farmer in the region.
Food safety on front burner at Capitol Hill, White House
WASHINGTON Produce businesses will need to keep a close eye on Washington in the coming month as a powerful congressional committee is slated to take up food-safety legislation after Memorial Day and a high-level White House task force is looking at how best to improve government oversight.
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee, said that he plans to have a draft food-safety bill ready by mid- May and start holding hearings on food-safety legislation right after the Memorial Day recess.