LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Honduras offers opportunities for foreign investors
Recently, I toured Honduras at the invitation of the country's Foundation for Investment & Export Development, better known by its acronym, FIDE. The tour included visits to a wide array of agricultural interests, including a banana-processing facility, two Oriental vegetable packinghouses, a melon- growing operation, an impressive private international university that focuses on agriculture, two aquaculture farms, a cocoa processing facility and a crocodile farm.
Yes, a crocodile farm.
Wind the biggest enemy to Florida tomatoes as Florida watches Fay
"Growers in Palmetto, Ruskin and some in the Immokalee areas are underway" with the initial tomato planting process, said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange in Maitland, FL. "They could be in for some major losses if Fay delivers strong winds."
California-grown Keitt mangos making a comeback
La Quinta, CA-based Ag Accounting LLC is rebounding with its California- grown Keitt mangos following a disastrous year with the fruit in 2007 when January freezes wiped out 50 acres of the variety.
"We had 30,000 cartons [of Keitt]" in 2007, said Ted Johnson, chief operating officer of Ag Accounting. This year, Ag Accounting should have in excess of 250,000 cartons of conventional and organic Keitt mangos, he said.
Dennis Gertmenian retires from Ready Pac
Dennis Gertmenian, chief executive officer of Ready Pac Foods in Irwindale, CA, has retired from the company he founded in 1969.
This is the second retirement for the 62-year-old Mr. Gertmenian, and this one looks like it will stick. He will, however, continue as a board member for Ready Pac Foods and remains the company's major shareholder.
Mr. Gertmenian said that the company is coming off a record year and is at the forefront of the industry again.
Eurofresh marketing campaign focusing on locally grown
Eurofresh Farms in Willcox, AZ, is launching a new marketing program designed to educate Arizona shoppers about the advantages of buying locally grown Eurofresh tomatoes.
Eurofresh is bringing back the familiar "Arizona Grown" logo and will include it on all packages and all materials shipped to Arizona grocery stores.
All Things Organic show to join Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food
The Organic Trade Association announced that it will co-locate its 2009 All Things Organic conference and trade show with Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food June 16-18 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Sunkist realigns sales structure to expand business and service
SHERMAN OAKS, CA -- Sunkist Growers is realigning its sales operations, trading bricks and mortar for electronic technology to better serve its customers, shippers and growers. According to Mark Tompkins, Sunkist's director of domestic fresh fruit sales, the changes are a result of a comprehensive business evaluation undertaken by the cooperative citrus marketing organization.
Seald-Sweet's offshore citrus programs running steady
"Our South African citrus program began with limited supplies in June," said David Mixon, senior vice president of Seald-Sweet International, headquartered in Vero Beach, FL. "Due to growing conditions, supplies were somewhat late -- about two to three weeks behind last year. On a long-term average, it makes this year's movement about four weeks later than normal."
Hronis goes 'greener' on one grand scale
With rising fuel costs affecting California growers' ability to get loads of produce shipped, one southern San Joaquin Valley grower-packer-shipper found that a project that began predominantly as a convenience for truckers and a timesaving element has yielded real fuel- and cost-saving, emission- reducing and area traffic-lowering benefits that greatly exceed the company's original plan.
Coastline now offering microwaveable green beans
Coastline Produce in Salinas, CA, is offering premium clipped and washed green beans in microwaveable bags. The new value-added product is a 12- ounce bag packed six or nine bags per carton. Receivers have a choice of an English-only version or a French/English bilingual version for the Canadian marketplace.