In Canada, new organic regulations may affect sales
Recently approved regulations for organic foods in Canada could have a dramatic impact on how the country's organic produce is grown, imported and sold.
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association is among several industry organizations that are working to make changes to the regulations before they potentially stymie organic sales in Canada.
"We are still fighting the organic battle here in Canada to ensure a workable system," Heather Holland, senior technical manager for food safety and government relations of CPMA, told The Produce News.
Mushroom market remains tight in 2007
U.S. mushroom growers are entering 2007 with a marketing situation not seen in many years as prices offered by processors are reaching last year's fresh-market prices.
Laura Phelps, president of the American Mushroom Institute in Washington, DC, released a report Jan. 8 titled 2007 Mushroom Outlook from the American Mushroom Institute.
CTFA contemplates food safety certification program
One major area on which the California Tree Fruit Agreement will focus in the coming year, according to CTFA President Sheri Mierau, is food safety and the possibility of establishing an industry food-safety certification program.
Ms. Mierau, who was promoted to president effective Jan. 1, succeeding Blair Richardson, was previously vice president of marketing.
Recent news reports of problems with food-borne illness have highlighted the need for growers, packers and shippers in all commodities to be sure that the food-safety programs they have in place are adequate.
Kingsburg Orchards' John Hein to head marketing at Crown Jewels
FRESNO, CA -- John Hein, who for the past 17 years has been director of marketing for Kingsburg Orchards in Kingsburg, CA, resigned Jan. 8 and accepted a position as marketing director for Crown Jewels Marketing & Distribution, here.
A written statement from Kingsburg Orchards said: "John has been a valued member of the Kingsburg Orchards sales team. We will miss him, and we wish him every continued success."
Kingsburg Orchards salesman Bob Maxwell said that an announcement would be forthcoming shortly regarding changes in staff assignments within the company.
Freeze hits Central Valley
The California Central Valley citrus industry has been devastated by a deep and prolonged freeze.
Without knowing the full details, citrus growers fear the worst -- that a substantial portion of the crop has been lost to the freeze. Growers will assess the damage again Monday, Jan. 15 and have a better idea as the extent of damage and loss.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast for Bakersfield, CA, predicts morning lows of 25, 25, 28, 27, 29 and 31 over the next six days.
Premium variety headlines Moroccan citrus program at Oppenheimer
The company that brought the original seedless oranges to North America over a century ago will introduce its latest sweet, juicy citrus variety to the U.S. market in mid-January.
Nour, a type of clementine indigenous to Morocco, is the newest addition to the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group's citrus program. Nour clementines are produced in Morocco's premium orange-growing region, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Texas grapefruit plays starring role at NYC event
NEW YORK -- "Texas grows the reddest and sweetest grapefruit on the market today," Eleisha L. Ensign, executive director of TexaSweet Citrus Marketing Inc. in Mission, TX, said as she held a Rio Star variety high in the air to show off the good-looking fruit to an audience, here, Jan. 6, at the French Culinary Institute.
The event, a demonstration of dessert recipes prepared by Gotham Bar & Grill's pastry chef, Deborah Racicot, was co-sponsored by TexaSweet and PastryScoop.com, an on-line magazine and information site founded by the institute.
Warm weather causes glut for some Florida crops
Unseasonably warm weather in Florida during November and December created at least a temporary glut of fresh produce coming out of fields near the beginning of the year. Although the problem was thought to be working itself out by around Jan. 10, it did cause prices to drop at least temporarily, especially on peppers and tomatoes.
Industry readies for possible changes from leafy greens marketing order
SALINAS, CA -- A state hearing on a marketing agreement that would involve a dozen or so green leafy vegetables was drawing strong interest leading into the Jan. 12 hearing at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, CA.
The hearing and the effort to gain a marketing agreement are being conducted by the California Department of Food & Agriculture at the behest of fresh produce industry associations.
Strong cold front headed to the West
Unprecedented cold temperatures will soon descend upon much of the West and Southwest. California citrus growers in the Central Valley are bracing for a string of cold temperatures Jan. 11-18. Snow is forecast on the valley floor Jan. 12 near Bakersfield. Daytime highs will range from 39 to 55 degrees with overnight lows in the low 20s to 30 degrees. Wind chill temperatures the nights of Jan. 13, 14 and 15 will be in the teens.