SALINAS SCENE: Grower-Shipper Association building getting tenants back
Life is beginning to return to normal at the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California's building in Salinas, CA, nearly five months after a fire forced tenants to find other working quarters.
A July 18 fire destroyed the kitchen and damaged part of an adjacent small conference room. Power and water were restored to the building the day following the 10 p.m. fire, and disruption to the association's work was minimal.
FPAA records big turnout at its 39th annual convention
RIO RICO, AZ -- The 39th annual convention of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, held here Nov. 29-Dec. 1, was memorable for several reasons: It was the swan song of departing President Lee Frankel, it brought more than 650 attendees to this southern Arizona location that is the hub of winter vegetable production, and it featured a strong educational session that touted the importance of Mexican produce for four U.S. retail chains.
Chilean avocados gain national publicity
Avocado recipes and photos from the Chilean Avocado Importers Association are appearing on television and in the food pages of some of the nation's leading newspapers.
"Mr. Food," a syndicated television program broadcast in more than 150 markets across the United States, featured Chilean Hass avocados in its Oct. 18 episode and will present another segment on the item on Dec. 13. The pair of two-minute segments features footage of Chilean Hass avocado groves as Mr. Food talks about the Chilean season and the availability of Chilean Hass avocados for fall and winter meals.
Hass Avocado Board celebrates the holidays with integrated marketing campaign
&IRVINE, CA -- Working to add a new shade of green to consumers' holiday menus, the Hass Avocado Board has launched an integrated marketing initiative encouraging consumers to incorporate avocados into their December holiday meals.
United's Philadelphia chapter holds 23rd annual ladies night
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- The Philadelphia chapter of the United Fresh Produce Association and the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market held their 23rd annual ladies night party Dec. 1, here in Atlantic City's Tropicana Hotel & Casino.
About 185 people attended the party, which included a reception, dinner and dancing.
Chuck Zambito of Zambito Produce Sales Inc. in Woodbury, NJ, organizes the party every year in a volunteer effort. Mr. Zambito is president of the Philadelphia chapter of United Fresh.
National Apple Month calls for display entries
Retailers are proud of the displays that were featured in their produce departments during the fall months, September through November, and National Apple Month wants to see the results of each retailer's efforts.
So NAM has announced its call for entries for its 2007 fall display contest in retail supermarkets and military commissaries. More than 50 winners will be named in the contest, with awards varying from $1,000 to $25 in cash prizes or charitable donations.
Small farms and consumer group oppose federal marketing agreement
WASHINGTON -- Some small- and medium-sized farm operations are protesting the government's recent move to consider adopting California's leafy greens marketing agreement nationwide in the shape of a federal marketing program.
In comments sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, groups such as the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and the Cornucopia Institute said that the metrics applied under California's marketing agreement suit large- scale farms that cater to fresh-cut processors rather than smaller growers of whole-leaf vegetables.
Church Bros. and Premium Fresh move forward with working arrangement
SALINAS, CA -- Church Bros. LLC and Premium Fresh, both based here, are working on an agreement that would have Church Bros. handling the sales and marketing of Premium Fresh products, both companies confirmed with The Produce News Nov. 27.
Both Tom Church of Church Bros. and Emmitt Pfost of Premium Fresh said that they hoped a deal would be completed by the end of the Dec. 3 week. Premium Fresh would remain a separate company, responsible for its own profits or losses, and still would have its hand in the selling of its own products.
New additions and positions for Oppenheimer sales team
To strengthen the delivery of its "Expect the world from us" customer experience, Vancouver, BC-based The Oppenheimer Group has acquired a pair of new sales representatives and repositioned two other key members of its sales team.
Will well ruling quench water woes for Colorado ag producers?
A decision by Colorado District 1 Water Court Judge Roger Klein to accept a water augmentation plan submitted by the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District has given agricultural producers in northeast Colorado some cause for hope. But the million-dollar question remains: Will the Oct. 19 decision give producers in the drought-stricken state the necessary water resources to bring in crops in 2008?