Skagit Valley farmers spared Mother's Natures wrath
Farmers in Washington's Skagit Valley are waiting for fields to dry in the aftermath of torrential rainstorms that had the potential to cause serious flooding.
Nunes Co. unveils TV ad campaign
SALINAS, CA -- The Nunes Co. Inc., marketer of "Foxy" brand vegetables, is launching a campaign featuring consumer television advertising to promote the care and quality of its "Foxy" vegetable items.
The consumer advertising campaign features a 30-second spot that will run through November in selected U.S. markets. The commercial, "Our Family Farm," highlights the beauty of California's Salinas Valley while promoting the care and quality the Nunes family puts behind "Foxy" brand vegetables.
MBG Marketing honors retiring CEO Kirk McCreary
Grand Junction, MI-based Michigan Blueberry Growers Association members, employees and special industry friends gathered Nov. 2 in Holland, MI, to honor E. Kirk McCreary, the cooperative's retiring chief executive officer. A special reception and surprise banquet roast followed the company's annual business meeting, with the day's events scheduled to coincide with the celebration of MBG's 70th birthday.
Election offers opportunities and concerns for produce industry
WASHINGTON -- New party leadership in the House and Senate may open the door for advances in sought-after legislation for the produce industry, but it also may leave open the possibility of further food-safety regulation.
The sweeping midterm elections will "certainly represent a change in how we do our work," said Robert Guenther of the United Fresh Produce Association. "We've had 12 years of working with one-party leadership."
Novazone selected to join Schwarzenegger on trade mission to Mexico
Livermore, CA-based Novazone Inc., a leading provider of clean technology solutions for food and water including advanced, ozone-based applications, participated in California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's California/Mexico environmental trade mission Nov. 9-10 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Gov. Schwarzenegger lead the trade mission to promote stronger economic relations between California and Mexico with an emphasis on environmental and energy-related issues, such as food safety.
Immigration reform advocates urge lame-duck Congress to act
WASHINGTON -- With control of the Congress up for grabs on Election Day, advocates for immigration reform made a last-ditch effort to brief Republican staff on the urgent need to respond to increasing labor shortages and stepped up immigration raids this year during a lame-duck session.
Investigation into source of Salmonella in tomatoes continues
WASHINGTON -- Health investigators are focusing on tomatoes delivered to restaurants as the source of the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 180 people in 21 states.
All evidence shows the outbreak is not ongoing, said Dr. David Acheson, chief medical officer of FDA's Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition. FDA did not send out a warning to consumers or ask the industry to remove products because the perishable items would no longer be in the market and as such would be unable to pose a further threat.
Natural Selection ramps up food-safety initiative
SAN DIEGO -- In the aftermath of the E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak in spinach that involved San Juan Bautista, CA-based Natural Selection Foods LLC, the company announced an upgraded food-safety initiative at the recent Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit.
Beginning immediately, the company will test seed in the field for several pathogens including E. coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella, said company spokesperson Samantha Cabaluna. The company will test all water sources, including tailwater. It will test deep wells at least once a month.
Pride of New York Harvest Week at Wal-Mart
The Pride of New York program and Wal-Mart stores throughout New York state are celebrating the bounty of the harvest season with a weeklong showcase of produce grown in New York. From Nov. 7 to 13, 39 Wal-Mart stores across the state will highlight and promote New York-grown produce items with Pride of New York in-store signage.
Dennis Donohue elected mayor of Salinas
A real produce man will soon lead the community known as the Salad Bowl of the World.
By a wide margin, Dennis Donohue, president of European Vegetable Specialties Farms Inc. in Salinas, CA, has been elected mayor of that city of 150,000 people and will take office early next month.
In unofficial figures, Mr. Donohue received 73 percent of the vote Tuesday, Nov. 7, while his opponent, Maria Giuriato, a Salinas councilwoman, received 27 percent.