Weather a contrast in extremes but harvests in Colorado going forward
It would take significantly more than the slight rain falling over the agriculture region north of Denver on July 8 to turn around effects of a lingering drought for area farmers, but growers and water conservancy district personnel still welcomed even the hint of moisture at the same time that other parts of the state were hit with flash flooding.
Brooks Tropicals names executive
Homestead FL-based Brooks Tropicals Inc. has hired Zoltan Pinter as vice president of administration. Mr. Pinter will spearhead the continued expansion of the firm's Belizean papaya production, oversee the rollout of new information technology, and handle the company's legal matters and government relations.
Mr. Pinter's multiple skills were honed during a decade in the produce industry and his experience will be put to immediate use meeting the market's increased demand for Brooks' "Caribbean Red" and "Caribbean Sunrise" brand papayas, according to a company statement.
Grape commission to meet with Food Network staff
FRESNO, CA -- Representatives of the California Table Grape Commission, accompanied by a celebrity chef, will be going to New York City in August to meet with the staff of the Food Network, according to Jim Howard, communications director for the commission.
"We will talk to [the Food Network staff] about fresh California grapes," including their versatility, recipe ideas, the history of the industry, health benefits of grapes and "ways in which [the Food Network] can incorporate grapes in all of their programming," he said.
Panelists discuss using trends to develop growth strategies
MONTEREY, CA -- A panel of industry leaders came together for the opening general session at the Produce Marketing Association's 2006 Foodservice Conference & Exposition to share insights into how to best corral the considerable opportunities that exist to increase the sale of fresh produce to foodservice.
Markon takes hands-on approach with suppliers
SALINAS, CA -- Markon Cooperative, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States, purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide.
Walla Walla valley's onion festival is one sweet treat
WALLA WALLA, WA -- Toasty temperatures in the Walla Walla valley eventually pushed the mercury into triple digits, but it did not put a damper on the recent 22nd annual Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival.
The free event, held at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds July 14-16, showcased the famous Walla Walla sweet onion, a variety as distinctive as the area in which it is grown and marketed.
San Joaquin grape harvest not late as expected, thanks to recent hot weather
Following weeks of cold, wet spring weather, it appeared at one point that the table grape harvest in California's San Joaquin Valley would start at least two weeks later than normal, and some growers had predicted start dates as much as three weeks late.
But warm and sometimes extremely hot weather over the past two months has changed all that, as timing has generally returned to within three or four days of normal, and reliable supplies of fresh grapes in promotable volume are now available.
Keith Frosceno no longer with Newell
As the July 24 issue of The Produce News was going to press, it was learned that Keith Frosceno, regional vice president of sales for W. Newell & Co. in Champaign, IL, left that company July 14.
Washington fruit crop damage assessments to be released in August
KENNEWICK, WA -- Dan Kelly, assistant director of the Washington Growers Clearing House Association in Wenatchee, WA, said July 17 that he expects realistic numbers about summer hail damage to the state's crop of apples, pears and cherries will become available the week of Aug. 7.
RETAIL NOTES: Albertsons opts out of the on-line grocery business
One month after ownership of the Albertsons chain changed hands, the company has announced that as of July 21 it is closing its on-line shopping and delivery service in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix markets.
A company spokesperson said that it was a "strategic business decision" designed to focus the firm's efforts on enhancing the "in- store shopping experience."