Top produce managers to be honored at Fresh Marketplace in Chicago
The United Fresh Produce Association will honor the winners of its 2007 Retail Produce Manager Award at the upcoming United Fresh Marketplace show at FMI, to be held May 5-8 in Chicago.
Washington asparagus supplies expected to be tight
Alan Schreiber, executive director of the Washington Asparagus Commission in Eltopia, WA, expects supplies of fresh asparagus will be tight in 2007.
"Supplies will be tighter than last year," Dr. Schreiber told The Produce News. "There are a number of handlers who won't have the product they want. Prices, however, are going to be relatively good."
New research pegs artichokes as antioxidant powerhouse
Researchers from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Oslo in Norway used the ferric reducing ability of plasma assay method to measure the antioxidant levels in 1,113 different food and beverage items. Artichokes were found to be the leading vegetables in terms of providing anti-oxidants per servings and were No. 4 overall. The results were recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Agrofresh's Davis facility to focus on research
SPRING HOUSE, PA -- AgroFresh Inc. has unveiled its new research laboratory in Davis, CA, holding an open house at its new facility located minutes from the University of California campus there.
According to AgroFresh, the new laboratory was established to support core research and development needs of the company, which specializes in quality management systems through its expertise and understanding of ethylene management for the horticultural and agronomic crop industries.
New Canadian destination inspection service takes root
After nearly six years of hard work, the Canadian produce industry has finally begun implementing changes to its Destination Inspection Service.
Stone fruit expected to have 'normal' season in 2007
If there is such a thing as normal any more in the California stone fruit industry, this may be the year the industry sees it, according to Gary Van Sickle, research director for the California Tree Fruit Agreement in Reedley, CA.
Last year was marked by weather extremes, ranging from unseasonably warm winter weather to prolonged wet, cool spring weather, followed by extreme heat from mid to late summer. The effect was a delay in the timing of the crops and a reduction in volume, particularly in later varieties.
David Shaw, longtime WGA employee, dies at 59
David Shaw, a 28-year employee of Western Growers Association, died April 3 after a massive heart attack, four days shy of his 60th birthday.
Mr. Shaw joined WGA in 1979 as cash manager and was promoted to vice president two years later, with oversight over all treasury functions of the association and its affiliate entities' fixed-income investments, which are approaching $1 billion. He consistently exceeded the benchmark indeces against which he was measured and provided significant incremental returns to enhance WGA's cash flow and bottom line.
Campaign brings local produce to Wal-Mart customers
The Maine Potato Board, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the Bushwick Commission have embarked on a campaign to bring the freshest tablestock potatoes to Maine consumers.
Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Seth Bradstreet III was on hand March 15 to kick off the campaign at the Waterville Wal-Mart Supercenter. Wal-Mart Supercenters across Maine featured 10-pound bags with the "Get Real Get Maine!" logo.
Joint venture means 'more balanced' flow of potatoes into the fresh market
United Potato Growers of Idaho, a grower-owned cooperative formed in 2005 with a goal of bringing about a balance between supply and demand in the tomato market, has announced the formation of a joint venture with Idaho Fresh-Pak Corp. and the R.D. Offutt Co. that will create the nation's second-largest dehydrator.
Lewisville, ID-based Idaho Fresh-Pak, also known as Idahoan Foods, produces dehydrated and frozen potato products for retail and foodservice.
Freeze wipes out most South Carolina peaches
COLUMBIA, SC -- South Carolina peach growers may have lost 90 percent of their crop to a devastating cold snap that hit Easter weekend, according to officials in the state.
Larry Yonce, president of the South Carolina Peach Council, and Hugh Weathers, commissioner of agriculture, issued a joint statement April 11 after a meeting with South Carolina Peach Council members and others in the peach industry. From initial reports, South Carolina peach growers say that they would be fortunate to have 10 percent of a crop.