Cal Giant participates in 29th annual Watsonville Criterium
Saturday, July 22 marked the 29th anniversary of the Watsonville Criterium Cycling Race, which was held in downtown Watsonville, CA. The course was to have many dips and turns and was on local city streets allowing plenty of involvement from the neighborhoods with the opportunity to cheer the riders on as they passed by Brewington, Cerritos, Rogers, Oregon, Hill and California streets. The race had several categories including local juniors division, masters, women and Cat 1/2 men.
IN THE TRENCHES: Innovative companies have leading edge
A salesperson was just completing a long-winded presentation to a retailer. After it ended, the retailer asked, "So what's new about your item?"
Not expecting that question, the representative hemmed and hawed, "Well, umm, I mean, umm, well & nothing. But the package is neat anyway."
What company can afford to throw away valuable revenue dollars by not being inventive? Today, companies have to be "sly as a fox" in creating something new and of value for consumers. And if they're not, they're sunk.
Lauren Keenan pauses to help Hurricane Katrina's smallest victims
RIVERHEAD, NY -- To say that Lauren Keenan is an animal lover would be an understatement. While most 26-year-olds would probably choose to take a week's vacation sitting on a beach or partying in Florida or Mexico, Ms. Keenan drove to New Orleans last October to help rescue and take care of animals that were left homeless and ownerless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Navy teams up with Apio to boost produce shelf life
The U.S. Navy is hoping this January to outfit ships with a packaging technology that would boost the shelf life of fresh produce to save the military from wasting millions of dollars on spoiled fruits and vegetables.
The Navy has been testing Apio Inc.'s BreatheWay, a proprietary membrane technology that provides an optimal atmosphere within the package to extend shelf life and preserve the freshness of the produce.
New Jersey peach quality looks to be outstanding this season
Thanks to favorable peach growing weather, New Jersey is projecting an excellent crop of yellow peaches, white peaches and nectarines.
New Jersey's crop enjoyed a winter with near perfect chill hours and a very favorable spring with just the right amount of rain. In anticipation of a full crop, growers did heavy thinning to increase size. Fruit quality appears to be outstanding.
Railex LLC's New York facility right on track
ROTTERDAM, NY -- Imagine a 110-story building and an 18-story building lying on their sides perpendicular to each other. This might give some idea of the sheer size of the new produce freight consolidation facility that Railex LLC, a division of ADS Management, is building here.
Piazza Produce setting a standard worth emulating
"We have witnessed tremendous growth in our marketplace in the past three to five years," said Pete Piazza, president of Piazza Produce in Indianapolis. "The city has grown by leaps and bounds, and restaurants are opening at a proportionate rate."
PMA appoints new foodservice board in Monterey
NEWARK, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association announced July 17 its 2006-07 Foodservice Board of Directors during the PMA Foodservice Conference & Exposition, July 14-16, in Monterey, CA.
Foodservice board Chairman Mikel Weber, vice president of Eastern operations for Golden Corral Corp. in Raleigh, NC, is supported by 16 directors. Board members are:
-- Mark Austin, vice president of Hardie's Fruit & Vegetable Co. LP in Dallas.
-- Leonard Batti, vice president of production and processing for NewStar Fresh Foods in Salinas, CA.
OTA holds election to get OTA Canada off the ground
At the request of its Canadian members, the Organic Trade Association is expanding its efforts in Canada by establishing an OTA Canada division.
"This fulfills a long-term goal of OTA to create a stronger presence in Canada," Caren Wilcox, OTA's executive director, said in a statement.
Ms. Wilcox noted that the association has always had members from Canada on its board and, in fact, was founded in part by Canadians. This move comes as Canada is preparing to issue its federal organic standards, which will require much attention from OTA.
Canada to modernizes destination inspection service
After years of negotiations, Canadian produce groups announced that an agreement has been reached to modernize the country's destination inspection service and ultimately produce a system that will guarantee timely and accurate inspections.
The agreement calls for a restructuring of the destination inspection service of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and collection and allocation of resources to make the program sustainable.