Hailstorm severely damages New York state apple crop
A massive hailstorm that swept across New York state Tuesday, June 18, may have reduced the state's apple crop by as much as 60 percent.
"The storm tore across western New York," Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, told The Produce News the day after the storm. "It moved from east of Buffalo -- across the main fruit belt area -- and hit south of Syracuse and the Hudson Valley. It was like the storm had radar for apples."
Southern Specialties taps into Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways program for intern
Alejandra Pineda, a 22-year-old senior at Michigan State University, began her internship with Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, FL, in early May. She is now working in the procurement department.
"My introduction to Gary James, COO of Southern Specialties, was during the PMA Fresh Summit in Houston, Texas, in 2007," said Ms. Pineda. "The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways scholarship program brings agriculture and food marketing students and faculty from select colleges and universities to the event, and I was fortunate to be one of the chosen students."
CMI's new marketing manager a good fit
Brett Burdsal, who was recently hired as a marketing manager for Wenatchee, WA-based Columbia Marketing International, has hit the ground running with his new responsibilities.
"We're very happy to have Brett on board," Vice President of Marketing Bob Mast told The Produce News.
Industry awaits information about E. coli episode
SALINAS, CA -- Health officials and the fresh produce industry are awaiting further word about the cause of an episode in Washington state where 10 people were sickened by an E. coli O157:H7 infection between mid-May and May 29.
Though inconclusive, Washington state health officials have pointed to Romaine lettuce as a possible source of the E. coli.
Baja California tomatoes could start crossing the border
WASHINGTON -- Baja California tomato shippers were hoping to start shipping product to the United States as early as June 16 as businesses rushed to draw up certificates and other paperwork to meet the Food & Drug Administration's condition for adding the Mexican state to its all-clear list.
PMA and WGA to co-host free industry webinar June 24 on COOL best practices
NEWARK, DE -- Produce Marketing Association and Western Growers Association will co-host a free webinar for industry to learn about and provide feedback on the associations' new draft best management practices for complying with federal produce country-of-origin labeling.
The complimentary webinar, which will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, is designed to prepare industry members for Sept. 30, 2008, when mandatory federal country-of-origin labeling goes into effect.
FDA clears three more areas in tomato incident
Indiana, New Mexico and Baja California, Mexico, have been cleared by the Food & Drug Administration regarding the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak associated with tomatoes.
U.S. tomato shippers look for quick return to normalcy
As the June 16 issue of The Produce News was going to press, the Salmonella situation relating to tomatoes was still very unsettled, but growers, shippers, wholesalers and retailers were optimistic that normalcy would soon return to the marketplace.
Gary Margolis, president of Gem Tomato & Vegetable Sales Inc. in Boca Raton, FL, was reached at his Arkansas facility June 11 as his firm was about to begin nationwide shipping of this year's tomato crop.
As tomato investigation lingers, PMA calls for more FDA funding
NEWARK, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association announced June 12 its support for a Bush administration proposal to increase U.S. Food & Drug Administration funding to strengthen the agency's food safety capabilities.
Fire at Rio Queen facility and office
MISSION, TX -- The main citrus packing facility and the office for Rio Queen Citrus Inc. were destroyed by fire June 11 after a welder's torch apparently ignited insulation, according to an announcement from TexaSweet Citrus Marketing Inc. and the Texas Produce Association. There were no injuries in the complex, which was undergoing off-season repairs.