River Ranch CEO resigns
SALINAS, CA -- Bob Jenkins, president and chief executive officer of River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC, based here, has resigned from the company.
Bruce Knobeloch, vice president of marketing, told The Produce News that Mr. Jenkins resigned as part of a "planned transition with the board of directors" and that Nov. 7 was his last day.
Nunhems plans to invest $20 million in Parma site
Nunhems, the vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience, announced plans to invest $20 million in the expansion of its Parma, ID, facility. According to Joachim Schneider, head of the BioScience Business Unit, which is based at the Bayer CropScience offices in Monheim, Germany, the expansion is soundly based.
"This investment lays the foundation for the sustainable growth of our vegetable seed business in the United States and beyond," Dr. Schneider said at the fall 2008 groundbreaking ceremony in Parma.
New report charts problems with Salmonella outbreak response
WASHINGTON -- Tomato business owners may feel vindicated when they read a new report documenting the flaws in the federal government's response to this summer's Salmonella saintpaul outbreak.
The 32-page report, Breakdown: Lessons to Be Learned from the 2008 Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak, represents an in-depth review of missteps and miscommunication that may have extended the outbreak that caused illnesses in more than 1,400 people nationwide.
At Nogales convention, panel assesses impact of economy on retail
NOGALES, AZ -- "We have heard every bad economic piece of news that is to be heard. Some of them are even true, unfortunately," said John Pandol, vice president of special projects for Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, and chairman of the grape committee of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, here, who moderated a retail and foodservice panel discussion held Nov. 14 during the 40th annual Nogales Produce Convention & Invitational Golf Tournament.
Acreage down in PEI, but growers anticipate good marketing year
"PEI potato acreage is down this year," said Bob Harding, general manager of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. "Acreage is reported at 92,500 this year, compared to 96,000 acres a year ago."
Fire hits Los Angeles County pest detection program
The Sayre fire in Sylmar in Los Angeles County that began Friday, Nov. 14 destroyed a satellite office of the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner's office.
The county's pest management offices (trailers) there that housed activity for pest detection, pest exclusion, produce quality and pesticide regulation were destroyed, and a pesticide storage shed was gutted, according to Ken Pellman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner's office.
Texas Citrus Mutual holds gala to celebrate golden anniversary
Texas Citrus Mutual, a non-profit trade association established in 1958 to represent the interests of Texas citrus growers, celebrated its golden anniversary with a gala event Nov. 15 at the John H. Shary mansion in Mission, TX.
National Mango Board launches on-line game
The National Mango Board recently launched the on-line interactive game Jango Geography to educate children about mangos and the countries from which they originate.
Additionally, children will learn about the flavor and health benefits of mangos with the ultimate goal of increasing mango consumption.
Bland Farms expands scope of services with new Texas facility
Bland Farms has opened a new facility in Donna, TX, that will enhance the Glennville, GA-based company's ability to service its customers.
"The doors of our new Donna, Texas, facility opened the last week of October, and the first product moved through it on Friday, October 31," Michael Hively, chief financial officer and general manager of Bland Farms, told The Produce News.
Top industry leaders meet with government officials on outbreak reforms
WASHINGTON -- With the produce industry still recovering from the summer-long Salmonella outbreak, top leaders of the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association sat down with federal food-safety officials to come up with a plan to improve the outbreak response and communication system.