California strawberry shipments could be headed for another record year
With an all-time high of 37,914 planted acres of strawberries in California and with shipments by March 7 tracking ahead of last year, the 2009 season could be headed for another volume record for fresh California strawberries.
Strong volume is expected to come on in time for Easter promotions.
Statewide strawberry acreage for 2009 is up 3.8 percent over 2008 and up 16 percent over 2005, with steady increases each year.
Obama directs focus on food safety, names FDA leadership
WASHINGTON -- When President Obama spends a Saturday radio address talking about food safety, can federal legislation be far behind?
Legislation to modernize the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's food-safety authority got a huge boost March 14 when President Obama took the opportunity during his Saturday radio address to name the new FDA commissioner, criticize the current food-safety system and announce a new interagency working group to look at ways to improve the federal system.
City and merchants agree on plan for a refurbished market
BRONX, NY -- New York City and the merchants of the New York City Hunts Point Terminal Market have agreed on a plan to improve the market.
Based on interviews with market leaders, what follows is a basic description of the market as it stands today and how the market would be improved. The existing market has four rows, labeled A, B, C and D. Each of these docks is about one-fourth of a mile long. Row A is the first dock encountered upon entering the market.
Conviction won in embezzling case
David Charles Lenihan, the former controller of two Washington fruit warehouses, has been ordered to serve 21 months in prison and make restitution in the amount of $412,000 to Underwood Fruit & Warehouse Co. in White Salmon, WA.
The order was issued March 12 by U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle in Spokane, WA.
Mr. Lenihan was previously convicted in Yakima County Superior Court on felony theft charges. He was ordered to pay $66,000 in restitution and sentenced to five years in state prison.
Harmonizing audits on tap for United Fresh meeting
WASHINGTON -- With produce suppliers being the constant target of costly and sometimes duplicative audits each year, the United Fresh Produce Association is hoping a two-day meeting next month will start the dialogue toward harmonizing audits with buyers.
At a recent meeting, the United Fresh Produce Association's Retail- Foodservice Board endorsed efforts to harmonize produce food-safety audits and urged produce industry members throughout the supply chain to participate in the April 24-25 Global Conference on Produce Food Safety Standards.
Idaho potato shippers finding success with intermodal shipments
A transportation concept that has been used off and on for many years is once again helping a segment of the produce industry get its product to market in a timely and economical fashion.
The concept is trailers-on-flat-cars, also known as TOFC, intermodal or "pigs." On a weekly basis, 25-30 loads of potatoes from Idaho are being hauled south to the Ogden, UT, loading ramp of Union Pacific Railroad. There, trailer is removed from the tractor and loaded on a flat car for the cross- country journey.
INDUSTRY VIEWPOINT: A legacy of Monterey County water planning protects crops in drought years
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced recently that California farmers and ranchers would most likely not receive a water allocation this spring, which could mean income losses of upwards of $2 billion for Central Valley growers. Additionally, a variety of newspapers ranging from the San Jose Mercury News to The Wall Street Journal have reported that California's drought is affecting lettuce plantings in the Central Valley. Our office has fielded numerous calls from people wondering what this means to Monterey County agriculture and our lettuce harvest.
Several new marketing initiatives at the VOC
VIDALIA, GA -- Wendy Brannen, executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee, here, has several new promotional programs planned to improve the consumer awareness of and dedication to the famous sweet Vidalia onion.
The committee has traditionally focused on national promotions, but "we are actually taking a different direction with our promotional programs" this year, Ms. Brannen said.
Knobeloch and Jenkins begin new venture
SALINAS, CA -- Bruce Knobeloch and Robert V. Jenkins have announced the formation of a new company, Knobeloch Jenkins Associates LLC.
This new business is focused on "providing business solutions to the fresh produce and perishables industries," according to a company press release, targeted toward supporting business owners, investors, creditors, boards of directors, executive management and project management teams.
Naturipe Farms promotes Robert Verloop
NAPLES, FL -- Naturipe Farms has announced an expanded role for Robert Verloop as the new senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Effective immediately, the former vice president of marketing will step into the new role with an eye on long-term strategic sales and marketing developments. His responsibilities at Naturipe Farms will continue to include all marketing programs, consumer research, sales promotions communications, advertising and public relations as well as government relations.