Delaware governor to receive 2008 Friend of Chile Award
Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner has been selected to receive the 11th annual Friend of Chile Award presented by the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber will honor Gov. Minner Nov. 20, 2008, during a luncheon at the Union League of Philadelphia.
Brothers Marc and Nic Marchini take to the field at family business
Between the two of them, brothers Marc and Nic Marchini have the family business covered. Marc Marchini, 25, handles sales and cost-analysis for radicchio specialist J. Marchini Farms, while Nic Marchini, 23, serves as the Le Grand, CA-based company's production manager. "He is the grower and I am the marketer," Marc Marchini said. The pair will be in attendance at PMA's Fresh Summit in Orlando, FL, Oct. 24- 27, where in addition to taking in supplier presentations, they are hosting a cocktail reception for their customers.
Nunhems hosts first International Watermelon Conference
Nunhems, the vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience, brought together experts from different parts of the watermelon supply chain at its first International Watermelon Conference Oct. 2 in Valencia, Spain.
Sev-Rend rolling out biodegradable tags for fresh produce
St. Louis-based Sev-Rend Corp., a manufacturer of tags and labels for various bagged and netted products, is rolling out biodegradable tags for fresh produce.
Sev-Rend's flexible packaging works with form-and-fill machines. An example of usage is two-, three-, four- and five-pound bags of citrus. In December, the company will move into a new state-of-the art facility in Collinsville, IL, about 10 miles from its current location. That facility will be certified by the American Institute of Baking.
United establishes new supply chain technology and logistics program
WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association has announced that it will establish a new supply chain technology and logistics program to serve its members in all areas of supply chain management, such as transportation, cold chain quality control, information technologies and systems for traceability, facilities management, packing and packaging needs and related areas.
Lettuce market expected to stay strong
Shippers in Salinas, CA, are enjoying a very strong lettuce market, and all indications are that it will remain that way through the transitions from Salinas to the San Joaquin Valley and to Yuma, AZ, that will take place over the next six weeks.
The market for a carton of cello-wrapped Iceberg lettuce hovered in the $16- $18 range during the week of Oct. 13.
Retiring Tonsos leave legacy in San Luis Valley
The fresh potato community in Colorado's San Luis Valley is bidding farewell to Jim and Sandy Tonso of Ca?on Potato Co. with great sorrow but best wishes for the future.
Thomas R. Ford, a recent inductee to the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame and chairman of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee in Monte Vista, CO, took time to speak with The Produce News from his tractor as this year's potato harvest began.
RETAIL VIEW: Consumer rewards program comes to produce
For what it believes is the first time ever, Chiquita Brands International has launched a consumer rewards and loyalty program in the retail produce department.
Tomato bailout plan left out of final government spending bill
WASHINGTON -- There were no takers for a bill that would have compensated the tomato industry for the damage caused during this summer's devastating Salmonella outbreak.
In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning that tomatoes were the possible source of a Salmonella outbreak that had sickened more than 1,000 people. The FDA later switched its focus to hot peppers and told consumers to resume eating all tomatoes in the U.S. market.
TraceProduce.com finds solid support in produce industry
Now in its third season of operation, the innovative Internet-based tracking program TraceProduce.com is meeting with enthusiastic support by new clients who have come on board this year.