Congressional hearing explores labor crisis
WASHINGTON -- Growers expressed frustration about the worsening labor crisis at an Oct. 4 hearing as a congressional committee looked at the labor needs of American agriculture.
"While some issues change, depending on the region, in every part of the country where I've traveled, the topic of labor always comes up, and it is usually followed by the word "crisis,'" said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). "This is a major problem for producers, and sooner or later, we must find a way to address it."
Unique quality program launched for Colorado potatoes
Riding on their positioning with retailers as quality potato producers, Colorado growers have expanded their focus with a new program dubbed Potato Excellence Training, or PET.
This educational initiative integrates every aspect of the San Luis Valley's potato-growing operations, from grower to shipper to the chain headquarters and local stores.
Maxco receives export approval for new sustainable package system
Maxco Supply, a provider of fresh produce packaging and packaging machinery based in Parlier, CA, has received export certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for one of its newest sustainable corrugated containers.
Maxco's Long Term Storage system for table grapes has been approved by the USDA for export to the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, according to a company press release.
Sunny Cove Citrus hires Selina Brown as foodservice sales manager
Keith Wilson, vice president of sales and marketing for Sunny Cove Citrus LLC in Orange Cove, CA, has announced the hiring of Selina Brown as foodservice sales manager. Ms. Brown was previously with HMC Marketing in Kingsburg, CA.
"We welcome Selina to our team and look forward to having her represent us with the customers that she has dealt with for many years," Mr. Wilson said. "We are just very happy have her on board and think she is going to bring a nice diversification to the different types of customers we hope to contact as we go forward."
Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement approved; Florida may follow suit
The Arizona Department of Agriculture approved the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Sept. 27 and closed nominations to serve on the Marketing Committee one week later on Thursday, Oct. 4.
Mariani Packing and U.S. Fruit & Veg expand fresh produce relationship
MONTEREY, CA -- Longtime industry-leading dried fruit processor Mariani Packing Co. has gotten a taste of the fresh fruit market -- and it likes it.
The effort took root when U.S. Fruit & Veg Inc., based here, presented a proposal to Vacaville, CA-based Mariani Packing to grow and market fresh strawberries bearing the "Mariani" label. Mariani Packing agreed, and Albion- variety strawberries carrying the "Mariani" label began shipping across the United States and in Canada and Mexico in early June.
Produce For Kids surpasses million-dollar milestone
Produce for Kids, a Reidsville, GA-based organization that promotes the benefits of healthy eating while raising funds for Children's Miracle Network hospitals nationwide, announced that its 2007 spring campaign has set a new fundraising record of over $415,000, generating more than $1 million in total donations since the program began in 2002.
Pro*Act appoints Robert Kiehnle as CFO
Monterey, CA-based Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry, has appointed Robert Kiehnle as chief financial officer.
Japanese pears flavor Oppenheimer's autumn pipfruit offerings
This fall, The Oppenheimer Group will once again present its signature Asian pear -- the Tottori 20th Century variety from Japan -- to customers throughout the United States.
"The new crop is a beauty -- it's larger in volume but smaller in fruit size," David Nelley, pipfruit category director for the Vancouver, BC-based marketer, said in a statement. "Remarkably, each fruit is pollinated by hand. The growing season has been excellent, and from what I've tasted, Asian pear aficionados across the U.S. are in for a real treat."
Pear board hits the road with heart health campaign
Armed with recent research associating the consumption of pears with heart health, a marketing team representing the California Pear Advisory Board hit the road to pay a series of "house calls" on some 50 media outlets in New York, San Francisco and Sacramento, CA.