IN THE TRENCHES: PMA and other groups step up in time of crisis
Which unexpected produce problems will develop during the night while you are fast asleep? What do you plan to do if and when a major crisis hits the produce industry? What if it involves your product? Whatever lies ahead could be very serious, overwhelming and even devastating to your business.
In 1894 and 1895, there were back-to-back freezes in Florida that virtually wiped out entire citrus crops. Unfortunately, similar brutal weather conditions still plague the produce industry.
Immigration raids, labor shortage to cost New York farms millions
WASHINGTON -- The largest lenders of New York family farms warned the week of Oct. 9-13 that the recent raids by immigration authorities and the lack of a stable workforce could result in a loss of more than 200,000 acres of crop production and millions of dollars in that state.
Nunes credited for responsible action in recall
SALINAS, CA -- The Nunes Co. President Tom Nunes Jr. announced Tuesday Oct. 10 that the company received results from an independent lab showing that multiple samples of both green leaf lettuce and water were negative for E. coli 0157:H7.
The news follows the company's voluntary recall issued Oct. 8 for certain heads of green leaf lettuce after the company discovered that water used to irrigate the lettuce may have been contaminated with E. coli.
SpongeBob and Dora now pitching tree fruit
Summeripe Worldwide Inc. in Dinuba, CA, and Nickelodeon have completed a new multi-year licensing agreement to bring Nickelodeon's most popular characters, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, to grocers nationwide on kid-friendly packages of farm-fresh peaches, plums and nectarines.
Jeannie is out of her bottle and will join friend -- and fellow classic TV icon -- Mary Ann at PMA
"Yes, master, it's true."
Barbara Eden and Dawn Wells will grant the wish of fans everywhere when they meet attendees and pose for pictures at the Idaho Potato Commission booth (No. 4705) at this year's PMA Fresh Summit in San Diego.
Faye Clack Communications helps raise over $20K for breast cancer research
Paint it Pink, the fundraising team from Faye Clack Communications Inc., a niche agency that specializes in strategic communications for the food industry, recently announced its successful completion of the 60-kilometer walk in the Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital.
Nickelodeon partners with Produce for Kids to promote healthy lifestyles
This fall, Nickelodeon is partnering with Produce for Kids, an organization that seeks to educate kids on the benefits of healthy eating, to promote healthier lifestyles. The campaign, which runs through Nov. 5, will use promotional programs in produce departments around the country featuring Dora the Explorer and messaging surrounding the network's health and wellness campaign "Let's Just Play."
Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways to host students at Fresh Summit
Through the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways program, the Produce Marketing Association will sponsor 24 collegiate food, agriculture, and marketing students along with their faculty advisors from six leading schools at the 2006 Fresh Summit in San Diego.
Lorri Koster assumes co-chairmanship of Mann Packing
SALINAS, CA -- Lorri Koster said that growing up in the family business will help her step into a high-profile position with Mann Packing Co., based here. The company's board of directors elected Ms. Koster Oct. 5 to the role of co- chairman. She succeeds her father, Don Nucci, who died unexpectedly Sept. 4.
Ms. Koster, 39, credits her father and Bill Ramsey, the late Mr. Nucci's partner of 39 years, for showing by example what leadership requires.
"Dad was a real mentor," Ms. Koster said. "I want to make him proud."
Bigger and broader pear inventory featured at Stemilt
Stemilt Growers Inc. in Wenatchee, WA, is in the midst of packing and marketing its largest pear crop ever, including a broader array of pear varieties and promotions adding color to the pear lineup.
Mike Taylor, vice president of sales and marketing for Stemilt, said that the company will sell as many as 1.5 million 44-pound-equivalent boxes of pears, up from 1 million in 2005-06. The larger crop for Stemilt comes at a time when Northwest pear growers are forecasting a smaller crop than was originally predicted in June.