Mastronardi honored at tomato competition
Mastronardi Produce took top honors at the annual Tomato Capital Tomato Competition Aug. 16-17 in Leamington, ON.
The company was recognized with top honors in the specialty variety category for its Champagne Cocktail Tomato, and with top honors in the beef variety category for its Beef Tomato. It also received the award for the overall best hothouse tomato for its Champagne Cocktail Tomato.
Citrus veteran Jim McCranie retiring from Seald Sweet
Seald Sweet International in Vero Beach, FL, announced the retirement of Jim McCranie, senior vice president of exports, effective Sept. 1. Mr. McCranie will be succeeded by Les Crocker, who was formerly with A. Duda & Sons.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods' shipping lemons from new facility in Mexico
The Mexican lemon season is underway, and Duda Farm Fresh Foods, headquartered in Oviedo, FL, is packing and shipping lemons from its newly constructed, 33,000-square-foot fresh citrus packinghouse in Guemez, Tamaulipas, Mexico, near Ciudad Victoria.
The state-of-the-art facility, which is a partnership between Duda Farm Fresh Foods and Mexico Citrus Farms Inc., is managed and staffed by Mexico Citrus Farms Inc. Citrus at the facility is packed exclusively for Duda Farm Fresh Foods and includes full traceability.
Women in the spotlight at QPMA's 61st convention
LA MALBAIE, QC - According to the Chinese zodiac, 2008 is the year of the rat, but in the Quebec produce industry, 2008 is unmistakably the year of the woman.
The Quebec Produce Marketing Association held its 61st annual convention here at Le Manoir Richelieu overlooking the St. Lawrence River about two hours northeast of Quebec City and paid tribute to women working in the produce trade at its industry brunch and closing banquet Aug. 16.
Apple prices expected to spike on short supply and high demand
Apple demand in the United States is higher than it has been in decades, and prices are expected to be higher than ever due to short supplies.
Several factors contributed to the state of this year's apple market. The 2007- 08 apple crop ran short, limiting its usual year-round supplies. Then, just as producers were weeks away from initial harvests for the coming year's crop, multiple hailstorms pummeled the Northeast, and extensive damage in some areas reduced projected volumes. Also, import supplies are down because of the weakened dollar.
Nominations for packaging innovator awards due Sept. 5
NEWARK, DE -- Whose packaging has that special punch? Produce Marketing Association is looking for examples of innovative packaging solutions to be considered for the association's annual coveted Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging.
Fresh Express to host fresh produce safety research conference
Salinas, CA-based Fresh Express Inc. will hold a one-day conference Thursday, Sept. 11, in nearby Monterey, CA. The purpose of the conference is to share findings of nine E. coli 0157:H7 research projects that focus on contamination of leafy greens.
Fresh Express funded the projects, all launched and completed in a 12- month time frame that wrapped up a few months ago.
Unpredictable Tropical Storm Fay on a path of its own
As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, Fay was categorized a tropical storm by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service, but despite that, hurricane warnings were posted in most south Florida counties before the storm came ashore late Monday. The postings were removed Tuesday morning when it failed to reach the 74 mph threshold that would have pushed it to hurricane status.
Tanimura Distributing Inc. files Chapter 7 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Tanimura Distributing Inc. in Irwindale, CA, has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, citing assets in the neighborhood of $4.8 million and liabilities of around $10.6 million, according to Chuck Curl, director of ratings for rating analysts at The Produce Reporter Co., publisher of The Blue Book.
The filing (case number 08-BK-22644-TD) took place Aug. 12.
Dollar's decline hinders some Brazilian exports
For the past decade, Brazil has made a concerted effort to increase its exports, with the United States set as one of its prime targets.
And while the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar and the United States' restrictive import requirements often hamper Brazilian exporters, great inroads have been made into cultivating the U.S. market.