Washington apple crop pounded by violent hail
While damage to Washington's cherry crop is expected to be minimal, predictions are that the state's apple crop did not fare so well following a violent rain and hail storm which pounded the Prescott, WA, area May 20.
Broetje Orchards appears to have been the epicenter of the storm, and officials at the firm are saying that as much as 50 percent of the company's apples may have sustained damage. According to an account in the Tri-City Herald, Broetje Orchards Grower Manager Joe Shelton said that fruit was "bruised, split in half and knocked off the trees."
North Carolina gaining momentum with 'Got to Be NC Agriculture' campaign
North Carolina, well known in the fresh produce industry for being the No. 1 producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, is also a major supplier of blueberries, white potatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons and a wide variety of summer vegetables including cucumbers, squashes, greens and other field crops. Now the state has a new marketing campaign to tout its agricultural diversity as well.
New York City lawsuit still has some loose ends
The complete judge's finding on the New York City lawsuit, recently won by the Hunts Point wholesale fresh produce market, will not be released until late May or early June. Even when the findings are released, another part of the suit will still not be resolved until this summer.
Christopher Ranch LLC earns 'Excellent' rating in food safety
Christopher Ranch LLC has announced that it has earned a 95 percent of "Excellent" rating for its HACCP program from Primus Labs in Santa Maria, CA, in April and a 97 percent "Excellent" rating from Sillkier Inc. of Homewood, IL, in May for its processed garlic production.
Mann Packing names Bruce Gilkerson new sales manager for U.S. central region
Officials at Mann Packing Co. in Salinas, CA, have retained Bruce Gilkerson to serve as the company's sales manger for the central region of the United States. Mr. Gilkerson replaces Mark Plantan, who Mann promoted to vice president of retail sales on April 11.
Fruit fly finds in Fresno trigger quarantine
As a result of finding six fruit flies within a three-mile radius, agricultural officials have established a quarantine zone in California's Fresno County that will adversely affect at least 500 acres of fresh figs.
"The bad news is that it impacts 5 percent of our crop," said Richard Matoian, manager of the California Fig Advisory Board. "The good news is that it is only 5 percent."
VOC hires compliance officer
The Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, GA, has announced an addition to its internal staff. William Braddy of Vidalia joined the office this growing season as the committee's compliance officer.
Plug pulled on Eastern Colorado Plains water
Unless all involved parties sign off on an emergency measure to buy water from Colorado's Western Slope, a recent decision to shut down nearly 450 irrigation wells on the state's Eastern Plains could lead to catastrophic losses for some farmers and outright bankruptcy for others.
Nunhems USA and Lady Luck take Grasmick to Lady Liberty
Southeast Colorado watermelon grower Bill Grasmick and his wife, Lauren, are planning a weekend adventure in New York City later this summer, courtesy of Nunhems USA Inc.
Mr. Grasmick's name was drawn in April in Nunhems' nationwide "Give Me Liberty" Sweepstakes, and he could not be happier. "Oh, gosh. I thought it was one of those deals where they tell you, 'You've won something,' and then you find out the rest of the story," he told The Produce News.
Kawamura speaks at Grower-Shipper annual meeting
MONTEREY, CA -- Agriculture needs to fully recognize its vital role - and be recognized - as part of the solution for food, fiber, fuel and more, California Secretary of Agriculture A.G. Kawamura told an audience assembled May 11 at the 76th annual meeting of the Salinas, CA-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
Mr. Kawamura said that there is "amazing technology taking place around the planet," and added that if Salinas and Monterey County could become energy-independent that it would "increase tremendously the economy in your areas."