Climb out of the commodity mindset at FFVA's 63rd annual convention
Successful branding consultant and business author Joe Calloway will be coming to southwest Florida this month to show agricultural producers how to climb out of the commodity mindset and make their products stand out from those of their competition.
He will be spreading his message of creating and sustaining success at the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's 63rd annual convention, to be held Sept. 17-19 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL.
Melany Jolly joins Markon
Salinas, CA-based Markon Cooperative is making a push to boost its national account produce sales, recently hiring Melany Jolly for the position of vice president of national sales.
Ms. Jolly's primary responsibility will be to develop national account produce sales for Markon, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States. Markon purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide.
Fyffes expands in Denmark
Fyffes PLC, based in Dublin, Ireland, announced Aug. 30 its acquisition of the remaining 50 percent of Brdr. Lembcke A/S ("Lembcke"), the Danish fresh produce company for DKK125 million ($16.8 million).
Fyffes has also acquired 100 percent of Interbanan A/S ("Interbanan") and 100 percent of Valby Bananimport A/S for a total consideration of DKK45 million ($6 million).
Labor availability is top concern for California Grape & Tree Fruit League
FRESNO, CA -- "As we sit here today and look at the public policy issue, and as we are moving toward an election, the number one [issue] on our radar screen ... is labor availability and the importance of having a legal and adequate work force," said Berry Bedwell, president of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, here.
"Having said that," Mr. Bedwell told The Produce News Monday, Aug. 21, "the biggest challenge is also probably the most difficult, given the political climate we are in right now."
FDA launches multi-year food safety initiative
SALINAS, CA -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration launched a multi-year food-safety initiative in the Salinas Valley in an effort to identify and prevent reoccurring E. coli 0157:H7 outbreaks linked to leafy greens in recent years.
FDA officials alerted local growers and agricultural trade representatives about the inspections during a day-long food-safety summit held here Aug. 29. The inspections cover local fields, coolers and packing plants.
Former DeCA official consulted with contract winner
For a produce industry that was already generally opposed to single-source produce buying for the Defense Commissary Agency, word that Carroll Allred has been a consultant to at least one company that bid on military business may not be well received.
Mr. Allred was the category manager for produce before retiring from DeCA in Fort Lee, VA, at the end of 2005. In recent weeks, DeCA has announced that a handful of companies have won military contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.
Beckman and tomato commission defend actions; continue plan to downsize
Amid a lawsuit claiming that its operations are unconstitutional (see story on page 1 of the Aug. 28 issue of The Produce News), the California Tomato Commission and its president, Ed Beckman, defended their actions in separate statements released the week of Aug. 28.
In addition, Mr. Beckman said that the board continues to march forward to a Sept. 19 meeting in which the downsizing of the commission's programs and a refocusing of its message are expected to be approved.
United and allied groups to hold immigration rally at U.S. capitol
The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, the National Council of Agricultural Employers and the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform are organizing an Immigration Rally on Capitol Hill, scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, concurrent with United's annual Washington Public Policy Conference. The event will be the second Capitol Hill rally these organizations have coordinated this year to highlight to Congress the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
'Pure Catskills' growers ready for great fall season
"Pure Catskills," a branding and buy-local campaign developed to promote agriculture from New York's Catskill Mountain region, continues its strong momentum as growers enter into their late- summer and early-fall crops. Given the current media and public attention being paid to organically grown produce, sustainable agriculture and ecologically healthy farming practices, the timing could not be better for the group.
Ottawa announces $1.5M to help sell wild blueberries
Canada's federal government will spend as much as $1.5 million over two years to help develop international markets for the country's wild blueberries.
The money will be given to the Canadian component of the New Brunswick-based Wild Blueberry Association of North America, which represents growers and processors from Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The association acts as a promotional arm for the industry.