HAB and Melissa's announce contest winners
The first co-marketing program between the Hass Avocado Board and Melissa's/World Variety Produce in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month left no question that avocados have gone way beyond guacamole.
Immigration reform among top 2007 priorities
WASHINGTON -- With the new Congress reporting for duty in Washington, DC, this week, comprehensive immigration reform will be one of United Fresh Produce Association's top priorities.
"There is a window of opportunity in 2007 as both President Bush and the new Democratic leadership in the House and Senate are more aligned on the need for immigration reform than ever before," Robert Guenther, United Fresh's senior vice president for public policy, said in a message to United members.
N.J. forms task force to address produce safety issues
TRENTON, NJ -- The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health & Senior Services announced the formation of a Produce Safety Task Force to protect New Jersey consumers and help local producers adapt to anticipated new produce-safety standards in the wake of several recent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.
The task force includes representation from the two departments, produce and food industry leaders and Rutgers University's Food Policy Institute & Extension Service.
Maggie Bezart named director of marketing for Chilean association
Maggie Bezart, founder of Maggie Bezart Marketing Services in Aptos, CA, has been named director of marketing for the Chilean Avocado Importers Association, according to Phil Henry of Henry Avocado Corp. in Escondido, CA, and vice chairman of the association. She started Jan. 1.
"The Chilean industry has made a commitment to have a full-time marketing director," said Mr. Henry. Ms. Bezart "is, of course, very experienced and very knowledgeable in the produce business. She has experience in marketing and in sales, so she is a terrific & choice for the avocado industry."
WGA urge businesses to voice support at CDFA meeting
Top officials with the Western Growers Association plan to meet with leafy green businesses in early January to explain the proposed California marketing agreement and to urge them to strongly support it at the Jan. 12 public meeting in Salinas.
Poll finds Americans heed safety warnings, maintain confidence in foods
A new Gallup poll released earlier this month shows that Americans are more vigilant about food safety warnings but still have confidence in foods sold in grocery stores and restaurants.
The Dec. 8-10 telephone poll of 1,004 adults showed that Americans maintain a high level of confidence in the safety of foods they eat, despite news in recent months of contaminated bagged spinach sold in grocery stores and the Taco Bell incident.
USDA Fruit & Vegetable Advisory Committee to meet next month
WASHINGTON -- The farm bill and food safety issues are just two of the issues on the agenda for the Jan. 23-24 meeting of the USDA's Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee here.
Originally chartered in 2001, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns named 25 produce industry members to serve two-year terms on the committee earlier this year. Committee members represent fresh fruit and vegetable growers-shippers, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, processors, foodservice suppliers, brokers and state departments of agriculture.
Las Vegas chosen as site of 2008 FMI show and United Fresh Marketplace
WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association announced that its board of directors has elected to continue its partnership with the Food Marketing Institue show, first launched with the co-location of its trade shows in 2004.
BC Hot House Foods bids farewell to Dawn E. Gray
SURREY, BC -- The growers, board of directors and staff of BC Hot House Foods Inc. bid farewell to Dawn E. Gray at the BCHH grower meeting held Thursday, Dec. 14.
After four dedicated years of service, Ms. Gray is stepping down as executive vice president of sales and marketing at BC Hot House Foods. During her tenure there, Ms. Gray devoted her time to building and strengthening grower relations, creating trade programs with lasting partners, establishing 12- month supply programs and overseeing all sales activities and marketing functions.
Jessica Peri determined to continue family's onion-growing tradition
One day several years ago, as she and her father sat talking, Jessica Peri posed a question. "I asked him what he was going to do when he retired," Ms. Peri recounted. "And he said he'd probably sell the company. It scared me -- I didn't want that to happen."