Spinach growers proceed with cautious optimism
Spinach growers in and around the Salinas Valley are preparing to harvest their crops again. While some are a little wiser, all are battle-tested after the E. coli outbreak last fall that implicated fresh spinach.
Salinas, CA-based NewStar Fresh Foods LLC's spinach plantings are on a par with last year's plantings, and the company will begin harvesting in a few weeks. NewStar was not implicated in the E. coli outbreak, but like every operator in fresh spinach took a sizable hit in the fallout.
Crown Jewels taps veteran grower to expand production base
FRESNO, CA -- Crown Jewels Marketing & Distribution, here, has hired Lance Shebelut, a partner in Madera, CA-based Dell Shebelut Farms, to head grower relations and help expand the company's production base.
"Lance is a great asset to the company," John Hein, vice president of sales and marketing and a partner in the company, said in announcing the new hire.
FPFC holds inaugural Northern California Expo
PLEASANTON, CA -- The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its first-ever Northern California Expo March 6, here, at the Alameda Fair Grounds.
FPFC President Linda Stine said that the expo was developed by the council's Northern California committee and was a natural progression of the expansion that the FPFC began several years ago.
Since 2002, the council has been holding regular events in Northern California, including two membership luncheon meetings per year as well as an annual golf tournament and produce tour.
Grape commission affirmed by growers
California's fresh grape growers affirmed the continuation of the California Table Grape Commission and its promotional programs for another five-year period. Kathleen Nave, president of the commission, announced the results of the two-month voting period.
Former CTFA president heading new marketing venture
Former California Tree Fruit Agreement President Blair Richardson entered into a partnership with some major tree fruit grower-shippers and has founded a new company that is launching what appears to be a brand-new marketing concept.
FreshSense is initially comprised of California growers-shippers who produce and sell about one-third of the state's stone fruit crop, as well as being significant growers and/or shippers of citrus and table grapes.
Mike Hambelton named Wenatchee's 2007 Apple Citizen of the Year
Columbia Marketing International Vice President Mike Hambelton was honored in February as the 2007 Apple Citizen of the Year, an annual award presented at the Wenatchee, WA, Apple Blossom Festival.
Mr. Hambelton was formally recognized Feb. 21 by Apple Blossom Queen Laura DeCamp and her attendants, Mikel Stanaway and Courtney Roberts. The award was first presented in 1981 in recognition of the Apple Blossom Festival's roots as well as apple industry leaders who have proclaimed Wenatchee as the "Apple Capital of the World."
Oppenheimer strengthens its California grape deal
With the San Joaquin Valley grape season just a few months away, the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group has strengthened its link with one of the region's top growers.
Oppenheimer will market a full range of grape varieties produced by Garcia Family Farms Inc. in Arvin, CA, starting in mid-June, according to Josh Leichter, Oppenheimer's grape category director.
Pistachio commission voted down
The California Department of Food & Agriculture announced the results of the continuation referendum for the California Pistachio Commission and confirmed that California pistachio producers did not achieve the required threshold vote to continue the commission.
Simone Naggiar joins Oppenheimer
The Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group announced that Simone Naggiar has joined the company as a business development representative serving retail, wholesale and foodservice clients in western Canada.
Ms. Naggiar, who joined the company in late January, is responsible for implementing effective promotions for Oppenheimer products in partnership with customers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Brandon Gritters pushing produce and pedals
At least one day a week, Brandon Gritters, a produce salesman at Interfresh in Fullerton, CA, takes the train to work specifically so he can ride his bike 25 miles back home. When one is trying to combine 20 hours of bike riding a week with a full-time job of selling produce, creativity is key. "I ride pretty much every afternoon when I get home until the evening," he said. "I like it when the days start getting longer so I don't have to ride in the dark."