Product promises reduced risk of cross-contamination
FRESNO, CA -- The recent rash of news reports about food-related illnesses has motivated the food industry to intensify the already high level of attention being given to food safety practices and protocols. From growers to restaurateurs to retailers, people at every level of the produce supply chain have been taking a hard look at their practices -- and their documentation of those practices -- to be sure that all bases are covered.
Gerald Edmonds dies at 63
Gerald (Wink) Edmonds, 63, who worked for Global Produce Sales in Winter Haven, FL, died of cancer Jan. 2 at Winter Haven's Bartow Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Edmonds was born Sept. 6, 1943, in Flint, MI. He moved to Florida in 1970. He had been working for Global Produce Sales in Lakeland since 1995. Prior to 1995 he sold citrus for Lake Wales C.G.A. in Lake Wales, FL.
Wilmington's port set to receive 20 million boxes of Chilean fruit
WILMINGTON, DE -- Twenty million boxes of Chilean fruit will be received through the port of Wilmington this season, according to Thomas Keefer, the port's deputy executive director.
The port's Chilean deliveries come from the steamship line Pacific Seaways, which carries breakbulk, palletized fruit for a variety of exporters. Joining the Pacific Seaways shipping cooperative this year is Dole Deciduous, based in Philadelphia.
Pacific Seaways will bring about 200,000 pallets to Wilmington from Chile this season. This is 14,000 pallets more than a year ago.
AgJOBS introduced in new Congress as growers tell of labor shortages
WASHINGTON -- Two growers told stories of labor shortages in the fields and orchards at a Jan. 10 press conference that marked the beginning of the agricultural worker debate in the new Democrat-controlled Congress.
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) reintroduced the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits & Security Act Jan. 10. Reps. Chris Cannon (R-UT), Howard Berman (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) introduced the House companion bill the same day.
Ready Pac moves ahead as Taco Bell investigation continues
With no smoking gun, Taco Bell supplier Ready Pac Produce Inc. finds itself in an awkward position.
"We're trying to put the feathers back in the pillow that [the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention] and [the Food & Drug Administration] pulled out," said Steve Dickstein, marketing vice president for Ready Pac. "We're as dumbfounded as anybody."
California Navel shipments ahead of last year despite smaller crop
Year-to-date shipments of California Navel oranges were running ahead of last season as of Jan. 2, even though the estimated 2006-07 crop is smaller than last year's bumper crop, according to Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual in Exeter, CA.
The 2005-06 California Navel orange crop came in heavier than expected at a whopping 91 million cartons. This season, as the Navel harvest got under way last fall, the California Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the 2006-07 crop to be about 27 percent lighter than that, or about 66 million cartons.
Seald Sweet's foray into grapes reflects changing times
PHILADELPHIA -- Seald Sweet International LLC in Vero Beach, FL, began selling Brazilian grapes in December, which is a new venture for the traditionally citrus-focused operation.
"Seald Sweet," of course, is among the older and more established Florida citrus brands. It did not seem to be a huge leap in the last decade when Seald Sweet moved to marketing citrus from other countries and other states. Such progress was greatly bolstered two years ago when Uni-Veg Group in Sint- Katelijne-Waver, Belgium, became the majority owner of Seald Sweet.
Twin Garden set to receive first lemons from Turkey
Twin Garden Sales Inc. is expecting its first shipment of lemons from Turkey the second week in January, and if all goes as planned, additional lemons will be available on a consistent basis through the spring.
The first shipment of 2,000 boxes was expected to arrive Monday, Jan. 8, at Port Elizabeth, NJ, Jack Lambke of the Harvard, IL-based company told The Produce News Wednesday, Jan. 3. The lemons will then be trucked from Port Elizabeth to Procacci Bros. Sales Corp. in Philadelphia, where they will be stored until they are ready for delivery.
Two brothers add depth to Johnson Associated Fruit Co.
DENVILLE, NJ -- Every company likes its employees to add depth to the organization as it strives to better serve its customers. In the case of Johnson Associated Fruit Co. Inc., that depth has been supplied most recently by Gregg Johnson and Kevin Johnson, the two sons of company President Bob Johnson. The produce brokerage company, founded by Bob Johnson in 1992 and headquartered here, buys f.o.b. from all over the country. Its customers are primarily wholesalers and small retailers in the Northeast.
Spinach information available on new web site
GREEN BAY, WI -- As the new year begins, a healthy, flavorful vegetable is making a comeback to grocery store produce departments, and a new web site is providing meal planners with everything they need to know when adding spinach to the menu.