President Obama announces key FDA appointments and tougher food safety measures
WASHINGTON -- In his weekly address Saturday, March 14, President Obama announced the appointments of Margaret Hamburg as commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration and Joshua Sharfstein as the principal deputy commissioner, as well as the creation of a new Food Safety Working Group.
Giant Foods executive finds produce is the perfect game
Whether it's baseball or produce, Rob Palmeri has his head in the game.
Mr. Palmeri, 41, a self-described baseball fanatic, is the produce and floral market manager for Giant Foods LLC, the Carlisle, PA-based supermarket chain. He has been working full time in retail produce since he was 20 years old.
California asparagus producers look to maximize opportunity
Cherie Watte Angulo, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission in Stockton, CA, said that March through May "should be the highest-quality [asparagus] product available."
There's no time better than the present to consume California asparagus, Ms. Angulo said. California asparagus is one of the "few featured commodities" on store shelves in its relatively narrow time window.
Mike Klackle joins Townsend Farms
Mike Klackle, a well-known figure in the blueberry industry, has joined the sales force at Townsend Farms, where he will be involved with fresh berry sales.
"I am 56 years young and feel like a kid in a candy store," he told The Produce News in early March.
Townsend Farms, located in Fairview, OR, which handles a full berry manifest, is the state's largest grower and processor of red raspberries and strawberries.
RETAIL VIEW: Fresh & Easy finding success with value pricing
Borrowing the line once used by a famous Arkansas resident, former Arkansas retailer Bruce Peterson said, "It's the economy, stupid!" when asked to comment on the recent trend of value pricing that is proliferating in retail produce departments these days. Mr. Peterson, who currently is on the board of directors of Naturipe Farms, launched Walmart's fresh produce division and ran that operation for the better part of two decades. He said that value pricing is not new, but it is a trend.
Southern Exposure 2009 proves that size matters
TAMPA, FL -- The Southeast Produce Council's sixth annual conference and trade show drew more attendees and more expo booths than ever before, while keeping the small, friendly and casual atmosphere that has made the event so popular in the past among attendees and exhibitors alike.
"The council will be putting together a post-conference survey within the next week or so," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Monday, March 9. "But overall, it looked pretty good."
Panels ponder future viability of California citrus industry
VISALIA, CA -- A cartoon illustration of a frog reclining luxuriously in a pot of boiling water graced the program cover for the California Citrus Mutual 2009 Citrus Showcase, along with the words, "Are we cooked yet?"
Congress begins new look at food-safety legislation
WASHINGTON -- When Congress rewrites food-safety legislation, it must not forget to revamp how the government responds to foodborne outbreaks, United Fresh Produce Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel said March 11 during a congressional hearing.
In the first congressional hearing on the topic, the three-hour hearing featured a panel of five experts, who answered questions about how to fix the nation's food-safety laws.
Veteran retailer returns to Sunflower Market
Bobby Stokes has joined Sunflower Market in Phoenix, AZ, as a full-line buyer for the supermarket chain. He had previously worked as the director of procurement for the retailer.
"I happily rejoined the company as a full-line buyer because of the amazing expansion we are experiencing - and growth, despite the economy," he said. "We work as a team - [there are] three full-line buyers - so we all have input and work with all vendors, carriers, etc."
Quality, service keep Bay Cities Produce rolling along
San Leandro, CA-based Bay Cities Produce Co. Inc. has built a strong reputation during its more than 60 years in business, with most of that time spent as a tenant on the Oakland Produce Market.
The firm carries a full line of fresh, frozen and prepared fruits and vegetables, and it services restaurants and institutions. Foodservice makes up about 60 percent of Bay Cities Produce's business; processing - including custom- processed products - makes up the remaining 40 percent, said Albert Del Masso, the company's founder and president.