'Peanuts' and pumpkins team on promotion
In recent years, a bevy of commodity marketers have sought to reach kids by branding products with popular television and movie characters. In keeping with that trend, pumpkin marketer Hinkle Produce in Cissna Park, IL, will offer growers and retailers the opportunity to market pumpkins using characters from the "Peanuts" comic strip and animated series.
QPMA gears up for 59th annual convention
The Quebec Produce Marketing Association will welcome partners, members and guests to its 59th annual convention Aug. 17-19 at the Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau, QC.
Working with the theme "QPMA: At the Heart of the Industry," association members, including President Daniel Decelle and convention Chairman Chris Kyriopoulos, have prepared an impressive program for attendees.
QPMA's Sophie Perreault goes the distance for members and the less fortunate
Sophie Perreault loves her job. In fact, she loves serving as the executive director of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association so much that at times she said that she spend hours at it and has to remind herself to turn off her computer and do something else. That "something else" often means volunteering in the community for organizations such as the United Nations Chidrens' Fund and for the Defi Sportif, one of the world's larger sporting events for disabled athletes that takes place in Montreal every April.
Connecticut growers overcoming challenges of heavy spring rains
Connecticut's vegetable production season began early this year with favorable weather in April. Farmers were excited about getting into their fields earlier than usual, and were able to plant many crops ahead of schedule.
Then came the rain. Then came more. And still more.
The entire state experienced much heavier-than-normal precipitation throughout May and June. Vegetable production areas were soaked, making field work nearly impossible for most of those two months. Spring was very challenging for Connecticut's farmers.
Indianapolis Fruit holds 19th annual trade show and golf outing
A nice mix of business and social events was enjoyed by roughly 300 people who attended Indianapolis Fruit's 19th annual trade show and golf outing July 24-25 in Indianapolis.
Kicking off the two-day event July 24 were presentations at the Indiana State Museum by Bryan Silbermann, president of the Produce Marketing Association, and Tonya Antle, vice president of organic sales for Earthbound Farm, a leading distributor of organic produce based in San Juan Bautista, CA.
Classic Salads digs into cause of product contamination
Salinas, CA-based Classic Salads doesn't yet know what led to a recent sample of the company's product testing positive for Salmonella contamination, but the company is attempting to get to the bottom of the problem.
IFPA staff move as merger becomes final
WASHINGTON -- Most of the International Fresh-Cut Produce Association staff has moved into the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association headquarters, here, as the two groups wrap up the final legal details for the merger, according to IFPA President Jerry Welcome. "This move marks a milestone in the process of our merger with the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association as we join forces to form the new United Fresh Produce Association," said Mr. Welcome.
New-crop garlic from California and China hits the market
The 2006 California garlic harvest is underway, and at the same time imported garlic from China is beginning to arrive in the market.
"This year, the [California] crop looks pretty good," said Louis Hymel of Spice World, which is headquartered in Orlando, FL, and has garlic growing and packing operations in California's San Joaquin Valley. "We started packing just a little later this year than what we normally do, but we expect about a 10 percent increase" in volume.
Rural lifestyle unbeatable for Ryan Fagerberg
EATON, CO -- At a time when young people are flocking from rural America to seek their way in concrete urban jungles, 23-year-old Ryan Fagerberg is a young man who's breaking the rules. Mr. Fagerberg, son of Fagerberg Produce Co. founder Lynn Fagerberg, is quite a chip off the old block. In early July, a little more than seven months following his graduation from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, he found himself happy, contented and thriving in the area he knows like the back of his hand.
International Mango Festival proves a tropical success
CORAL GABLES, FL -- Thousands of mango enthusiasts from around the world converged in Miami July 8-9 for the 14th annual International Mango Festival, co-sponsored by the National Mango Board. This year's event celebrated heirloom mango varieties from Cuba, such as the Toledo and Prieto.