FDA, industry react to Setton Pistachio recall
WASHINGTON -- Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. in Terra Bella, CA, has expanded its recall of pistachios after the Food & Drug Administration found Salmonella in its California processing plant.
The new recall includes all roasted shelled pistachios and roasted in-shell pistachios from its 2008 crop, and raw shelled pistachios that are not subsequently roasted prior to retail sale, the California company said in an April 6 press release. But the recall also includes nearly 250 candies, ice cream and other processed food items that contain Setton pistachios.
Grower base expands for Kiku apple
Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, WA, is poised to bring the trademarked Kiku apple to the American marketplace.
The grower base was solidified April 2 following the announcement that Applewood Orchards Inc., located in Deerfield, MI, was granted a sub-license to produce the variety. The company joins Columbia Fruit Packers Inc. and Rice Fruit Co. in Gardners, PA, in the Kiku grower-packer triad.
Federal leafy greens marketing agreement debated at food safety meeting
WASHINGTON -- The California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement is being exported to other states and other commodities, but it should be adopted nationally and set as a standard for importers to follow, Scott Horsfall, the marketing agreement's chief executive director, said at an April 7 meeting on food safety.
Mr. Horsfall told The Produce News that the industry hopes to have a draft federal marketing agreement available this summer to start the lengthy process of establishing food-safety standards for leafy greens grown throughout the country.
PBH spearheading national promotion program for fruits and vegetables
A national fruit and vegetable promotion program that would utilize mandatory industry assessments is being explored by industry leaders with the Produce for Better Health Foundation taking the lead role.
The concept was scheduled to be presented to the full PBH board on the afternoon of Friday, April 3, but prior to that meeting, PBH President Elizabeth Pivonka shared it with some industry leaders, and The Produce News.
The significance of Jersey Fresh
This is the year that New Jersey's agricultural community planned to celebrate 25 years of Jersey Fresh, what has become one of the nation's better agricultural branding programs. Instead, the Garden State's farmers and fishermen are watching Gov. Jon Corzine abandon the popular branding program by severing the state's funding.
Florida grower promotions support corn sales and charities
When the Florida Sweet Corn Exchange learned that the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services approved a request for a grant to support fresh sweet corn promotions this spring, the corn exchange began to reconsider how to spend its regular assessment for marketing activities. That's when exchange President Paul Allen started to think about charities.
Russet Potato Exchange opens Chicago office
With sales and account presence all over the United States, Russet Potato Exchange decided its offices no longer needed to be confined only within the borders of Wisconsin. The organization opened its first satellite office in Chicago, which will be staffed by Mike Shamberg and John (Jay) Martini Jr., formerly of the Art Kramer Co.
RPE said that its interest in expanding its locations is based on its desire to be a category leader and offer its customers expanded services.
Promotion to stimulate apple sales to India
The Washington Apple Commission has launched a new program designed to increase apple sales in the Indian cities of Chennai, Coimbatore and Bangalore. The program, "Washington Apples Banaye Aapko Maalamal Weekly," promotes the consumption of fresh apples in southern India.
"The goal of the campaign is to try to create excitement around Washington apples," Rebecca Baerveldt, export marketing manager for the commission, told The Produce News March 31. "One of the challenges we face in India is that 90 percent of apple sales are through small roadside vendors."
Tristan Kieva to head marketing at Pandol Bros.
Industry veteran Tristan Kieva has joined Delano, CA-based Pandol Bros. Inc. as its director of business development and marketing.
Ms. Kieva comes to Pandol Bros. from Consumer Effects International, where she was senior director of branding and marketing. She has spent more than 15 years in consumer marketing, with much of that time in the perishables industry. She has worked in Los Angeles for Paramount Farms Inc. and Sun Pacific Marketing Cooperative Inc. and was with Frieda's Inc. from 1999 to 2006.
Santa Maria going strong with continued rise in strawberry acreage
Nestled in coastal California between the agriculturally rich Oxnard and Salinas districts, Santa Maria is sometimes considered an adjunct to one of those two growing regions. But it is an area with a long agricultural heritage and some unique characteristics that give the district its own identity.