M. Levin celebrates centennial
PHILADELPHIA -- "Family lore," as they call it, figuratively piled on the table before them as four members of the Levin family discussed the centennial anniversary of their family's business, M. Levin & Co. Inc., here.
Four cousins patched together a historic story quilt that showed the colorful history of the produce business and a company that was founded in 1906 by Michael Levin, a Lithuanian immigrant.
CAC names new marketing director
The California Avocado Commission in Irvine, CA, has appointed Stacy Jaffa as its new marketing director with responsibility for leading the organization's strategy to promote California and Hass avocados in the U.S. marketplace.
"Stacy is the perfect leader for us in this white-hot competitive market," said Mark Affleck, CAC president and chief executive officer. "She will play a key role in our quest to create value for all stakeholders in the avocado category."
Keystone Fruit Marketing promotes extra sweet onions
Greencastle, PA-based Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc. specializes in sweet and hybrid red onions year-round and now extra sweet onions, too.
Keystone has been growing extra sweet onions for three or four years, but this is the first time the company has had extra sweet onions on the market. "We have a new consumer bag that highlights the extra sweet lineage of onions," said Tom Barnett, general manager of Keystone's northwest division.
Senate begins immigration reform debate
WASHINGTON -- Advocates are cautiously optimistic that provisions to help secure badly needed agriculture workers for labor-starved U.S. businesses will survive the Senate debate on immigration reform.
The bad news is that advocates are bracing to beat back amendments that could undermine the fragile AgJobs compromise, and will need to fight to ensure agricultural worker provisions survive the back-door deals cut during the conference committee.
Michigan cherries and apples hit by spring freeze
Officials representing the cherry and apple industries in the state of Michigan were cautiously optimistic following a May 6 cold frontthat sent much of the state's fruit-growing region into a deep freeze that the low temperatures will not spell disaster for the coming 2006 crops.
Phil Korson, president of the Michigan Cherry Committee, and Denise Yockey, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, agreed that the picture will be fleshed out in mid-June when the U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its 2006 crop estimates.
Max Herbold sells physical plant, will continue business
Max Herbold Inc. in Burley, ID, which has been in the potato packing business for 60 years, is selling its physical facility and will continue in business at a new location, according to Dennis Herbold, the company's president and the son of its founder.
"I am selling the building and physical assets," Mr. Herbold said, "but I did not sell Max Herbold Inc., and we are going to continue to be in business. We will be here until the first of August. After that, we will be in a different location, but Max Herbold Inc. will still be in business."
Alicia Bon Martin named chairwoman of FPAA
NOGALES, AZ -- Alicia Bon Martin of Wilson-Batiz LLC was elected chairwoman of the board of directors of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, here, at the organization's annual meeting on Thursday, May 11. Ms. Bon Martin, who has been serving as vice chairwoman of the FPAA board of directors, is the first woman to chair the organization in its 60-year history. She will serve a two-year term.
Hunts Point Market wins court decision against New York City
The Hunts Point market beat city hall.
On midday May 15 came word that New York State Supreme Court Judge Lucy Billings ruled that last fall, New York City was unfair in putting out a bid for a warehouse property next to the Hunts Point market.
FCC Hires Keck as executive director
The Florida Citrus Commission in Lakeland, FL, hired Ken Keck on May 17 to serve as executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus.
Mr. Keck replaces Dan Gunter, who resigned last month to take an executive position with a private agribusiness company.
Florida citrus industry faces possible fresh fruit quarantine
A quarantine on shipping Florida-grown citrus to other citrus-producing states is the last thing the already-distressed industry needs -- but that is exactly what it is potentially facing.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is contemplating placing the state under a canker quarantine, thereby preventing shipments to other citrus-producing states in the coming season.