Dole introduces three new bagged salads
Dole Fresh Vegetables has introduced three new salads: Spring Garden, Bacon Lettuce Toss and Sweet Baby Lettuces.
Spring Garden is the second in Dole's "Selections of the Season" salad kit line, which features seasonal greens with toppings and a custom dressing tailored to the season. Available March through May, Spring Garden is a light blend of sweet baby lettuces, crisp shredded carrots and crunchy toasted almonds.
Some Vidalia growers assert famous onion trademark in jeopardy
Concerned for the integrity of the sweet Vidalia onion name, growers of the prized crop are taking legal action against National Onion Labs Inc. in Collins, GA, a company that uses scientific means to verify and certify the sweetness of its clients' onions.
Josh Archer, an attorney with Balch & Bingham in Atlanta, which represents a group of Vidalia onion growers who feel that the extra sweet certification claim is an infringement of the Vidalia trademark, said that a lawsuit was filed Feb. 27 against National Onion Labs that would force it to stop using the verbiage.
New Orleans: Six months later, things are looking up
"It's getting better every day," said Nick Cusimano of Cusimano Produce Co. Inc. in New Orleans. Last week we did better than the week before, and weve got two more customers opening up today.
Six months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and its produce industry, both the city and the industry are coming back. Those small local grocery stores had been closed since the storm, but their reopening means a bit more business for local produce suppliers.
FDA issues draft fresh-cut produce guidelines
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has just released its long-awaited guidelines for the fresh-cut produce industry, which appear to mirror the industry's own food-safety control measures, according to the International Fresh-cut Produce Association.
Canada eases import policy for Mexican cantaloupes
Canadian officials eased import requirements for Mexican cantaloupes in another sign that governments are embracing Mexico's certification program.
Mexican cantaloupes were linked to illnesses in Canada during 2001 and 2002, which prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to ban cantaloupes from the lucrative markets. In response to both import alerts, the Mexican government developed a Cantaloupe Certification Program based on Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
A full array of events planned for SPC conference and expo
Those going to the Southeast Produce Council's 2006 Retail & Foodservice Conference can look forward to a keynote address from a national produce association president, two seminars directly targeting the needs of retailers and foodservice personnel, field tours to two of the regions top grower-shippers, an expo with more than 130 exhibit booths, and social events including an opening party, a closing reception and a golf tournament at one of the premier courses in the South.
Publix kicks off RFID pilot with three suppliers
Three produce suppliers began shipping radio frequency identification-tagged cases to Publix supermarkets in a pilot program that will test the web-based tracking system and involve nearly 300 stores across Florida.
"We're excited by the results so far," said Maria Brous, media and community relations director for Publix Super Markets Inc. We started reading RFID shipments in late January.
St. Louis Produce Market acquiring more acreage
In four to six months the St. Louis Produce Market will have closed deals to expand by about 25 acres.
Clarence Hughes, St. Louis market manager, said Feb. 8 that the market will purchase eight to 10 acres adjacent to the north side of the market, and will lease another 15 acres adjacent to the east side of the facility.
Caribbean Sunrise available in steady volumes from Brooks Tropicals
After several years spent refining production, Brooks Tropicals now has steady volumes of Caribbean Sunrise papayas this year, and the company is optimistic that it will be able to capitalize on the rise in consumption of the fruit in the U.S. marketplace.
Mary Ostlund, director of marketing for the Homestead, FL-based firm, said that Caribbean Sunrise is a Solo papaya variety with many qualities that make it attractive to U.S. consumers. Chief among them are the manageable size and the flavor of the fruit.
In The Trenches: Regional organizations devoted to the needs of the industry
Industry organizations have been in existence for many years. These groups serve the purpose of promoting product, educating people and promoting good fellowship among members. There are thousands of organizational groups from many worldwide industries. I'll bet you never heard of some of them. I am fascinated by some of their names: the Soap & Detergent Association, International Society of Explosive Engineers, Distilled Spirits Council and the National Association of Tower Erectors.