Chilean import statistics released
PHILADELPHIA -- Chilean fruit import statistics for the ports of the Delaware River have been released by the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. The statistics are for fiscal year 2006, which runs from November 2006 to June 2007.
Statistics are kept by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service and are based on fumigations.
House-passed farm bill gets high marks from specialty crop groups
WASHINGTON -- Specialty crop producers across the country praised the House of Representatives for passing a farm bill flush with more than $1.6 billion for specialty crop programs.
But opponents called it a business-as-usual extension of the 2002 farm bill loaded down with costly farmer subsidies and in danger of being picked apart in the Senate. Despite a veto threat by President Bush, who opposes the size of government subsidies, the House passed the five-year, $286 billion bill on July 27.
Second expo a success for Newell
W. Newell & Co., part of the Supervalu group, held its second annual expo July 24-25 in Indianapolis. In attendance were nearly 450 of the firm's customers.
The two-day event featured Harold Lloyd as the keynote speaker. His topic was "Merchandising magic and putting that 'Super back in your market," as well as his seven research revelations, or as he calls them, pearls.
Sage Fruit to handle marketing for Larson
Sage Fruit Co. has struck a deal with Larson Fruit Co. in Selah, WA, to become its exclusive marketing and sales agent, beginning with new-crop apples in 2007.
"We are very excited to have a new partner the caliber of Larson Fruit join our team," Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit, said in a press release. "They have excellent quality and grow all varieties of apples. I have seen the quality of box that they deliver to the marketplace, and it will complement our current warehouses."
Mexican avocados present low pest risk, says CDFA
The California Department of Food & Agriculture issued a pest exclusion advisory July 18 that reversed its policy of excluding from the state commercial shipments of Mexican avocados containing armored scales, a pest that is of considerable concern to California avocado growers.
Chinese ginger recall limited to one load
Although a poorly written press release seemingly states otherwise, the California Department of Public Health said that its warning against eating fresh ginger from China is limited only to specific lot numbers sold by Christopher Ranch of Gilroy, CA, between July 10 and July 26.
Organization building U.S. market for South African citrus
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ -- By the end of 2007, the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, based in Citrus Dal, South Africa, hopes to be more actively involved in promoting South African citrus in the United States.
Piet Smit, managing director of the forum, met with The Produce News July 24 at the organization's office at the Gloucester Marine Terminal LLC, here, to outline the future of his organization.
Jersey Fresh breakfast touts state's promotional campaign
PRINCETON, NJ -- In a longstanding Jersey Fresh tradition, a number of retailers and others involved in distributing and promoting farm products from New Jersey gathered here Thursday morning, July 19, to hear the state's governor and secretary of agriculture thank them for their ongoing support and to offer a brief update on the 2007 Jersey Fresh promotional campaign.
Greening surfaces in another major grove region of Florida
Citrus greening disease has been discovered in Florida's Hardee County, signifying a further spread of a disease that threatens one of the state's top agricultural crops.
"The greening was found outside of Zolfo Springs in Hardee County," said Andrew Meadows, director of communications for Florida Citrus Mutual, a member organization representing citrus growers in the state. "Hardee County is Florida's sixth-largest citrus-producing county in terms of acreage. It is located just south of Polk County, the state's largest citrus-producing county."
RETAIL VIEW: Save Mart hopes to capitalize on Lucky name
Lucky Stores was a well-known and respected name in the California supermarket industry for many generations until Albertsons bought the chain and retired the name in 1999. Many thought that Albertsons should have kept the Lucky name, which had a better reputation than the Albertsons moniker, especially in Northern California. Albertsons has since sold most of its stores to Supervalu, and the 130-store Northern California division was recently purchased by Save Mart Supermarkets, a privately owned central California chain.