California summer fruit: normal timing, good volume, better sizing, excellent quality
Official estimates for the 2008 California peach, plum and nectarine crops werel set to be adopted April 29 at joint meetings of the Peach Commodity Committee, the Nectarine Administrative Committee and the California Plum Marketing Board. But industry sources suggest that overall crop volume for the three commodities combined will be similar to last year's 56 million boxes.
Timing is also expected to be similar to last year, although temperature trends before harvest could adjust that by a few days either way.
New mango program aims to increase sales through superior taste
Fresh King, based in Homestead, FL, announced its new "Drippy Elbow Mango" program aimed at providing consumers with a superior-eating mango and retailers with sales not yet experienced in this category.
Cal Giant teams with Tennis Channel to promote Wimbledon coverage
California Giant Berry Farms and the Tennis Channel have developed a national co-branding effort that will coincide with the television network's first-time coverage of Wimbledon, one of the sport's more prestigious tournaments.
The partnership, named The Sweetest Match includes a national retail campaign, multimedia outreach and sweepstakes offering a chance to win a trip to Wimbledon 2009.
The promotion opens May 9 and runs through the conclusion of this year's competition, set for June 23-July 6.
Wal-Mart using store demos to tout organics
Matt McLean, founder and chief executive officer of Uncle Matt's Organic, spent four hours April 19 at a Wal-Mart store in central Florida sampling product and discussing organic fruits and juices with the chain's customers.
The event in Ocoee, FL, was just one of many such demonstrations that take place at Wal-Mart locations throughout the country on a regular basis.
Pro*Act sponsors inaugural Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award
MONTEREY, CA -- Las Vegas and the United Fresh Produce Association convention will be the site for the inaugural Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award, sponsored by Pro*Act LLC, based here.
Pro*Act President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Grinstead, who serves on the board of directors of United Fresh Produce Association, came up with the idea of the foodservice award.
The award, sponsored by Pro*Act, honors chefs and their companies for their use of produce in the culinary arts.
Riverside acquires HerbThyme as add-on to GreenLine Foods
The Riverside Co., a global private equity firm headquartered in New York City that specializes in leveraged buyouts, has added HerbThyme Farms Inc. in Compton, CA, to its portfolio as an add-on to GreenLine Foods in Bowling Green, OH, which Riverside acquired in September 2006.
FMI's Tim Hammonds to retire
ARLINGTON, VA -- Steven Curtis Smith, board chairman of the Food Marketing Institute as well as president and chief executive officer of K-VA-T Food Stores Inc., d/b/a Food City in Abingdon, VA, announced April 29 that FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds has elected to retire.
Mr. Hammonds, the institute's second chief executive, will have served in that capacity for 15 years. A search committee is in place chaired by Ronald D. Pearson, chairman emeritus of Hy-Vee Inc.
Investigation ongoing into Evans Fruit Co. fire
Information continues to be gathered to determine exactly what caused a fire that destroyed the Evans Fruit Co. packing plant near Tieton, WA. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms "and the Tieton Police Department are investigating the fire," Tieton Police Chief Jeffrey Ketchum told The Produce News April 28.
Colorado water crisis volunteers feted at special luncheon
ALAMOSA, CO -- A special luncheon prepared and served by eight members of the Colorado chapter of the American Culinary Federation was held Monday, April 21, in this south-central Colorado college town to honor scores of volunteers who responded to a recent water crisis.
When salmonella was detected in the Alamosa municipal water supply in mid-March, officials determined that the entire system needed to be flushed, and an army of workers and volunteers mobilized in response to the emergency.
Misionero consolidates operations
Misionero Vegetables, a private brand packer focused largely on organic produce, earlier this month consolidated its Monterey County operations under one roof.
Misionero closed its Salinas, CA, processing facility and moved operations under one roof at its nearby Gonzales, CA, facility. When the grower- processor-packager returned from its harvest season in Yuma, AZ, in early April, it moved its equipment to its Gonzales facility.