Mission buys interest in Henry Avocado as two firms eye the future
Mission Produce Inc. in Oxnard, CA, has announced that the shareholders have purchased a 49 percent interest in Henry Avocado Corp. As a result, the two companies have formed a strategic alliance.
"Initially, we are going to be sharing fruit and information and talking everyday," said Steve Barnard, president and chief executive officer of Mission.
Wisconsin-grown potatoes say 'I love you' this Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day brings lots of red heart cards, candy boxes and Cupids with quivers winging about. And in Wisconsin, it heralds a uniquely special way to say, "I love you" -- with a heart-healthy serving of the state's own potatoes.
CPAC growers vote at annual meeting to retain mandatory inspections
MONTE VISTA, CO -- By an overwhelming majority of 79 percent to 21 percent, potato grower-shippers in Colorado's San Luis Valley have voted to retain their federal and state marketing orders' mandatory inspections.
USDA allows irradiated Thai fruit into the United States
WASHINGTON -- Thailand is set to become the first country allowed to send irradiated fruits to the United States, according to a Jan. 31 agreement signed in Bangkok between Thai and U.S. officials.
Under a joint Framework Equivalency Work Plan, Thailand would be allowed to initially ship six irradiated fruits: mango, mangosteen, pineapple, rambutan, litchi and longan. Thailand is hoping the agreement paves the way for Thai producers to send other pest-free fruits, such as coconuts, to the U.S. market.
Prices and shipments up for San Luis Valley's potato industry
MONTE VISTA, CO -- With a 10 percent reduction in acreage in 2005, potato growers and shippers in Colorado's San Luis Valley were seeing predictable shortages in January as well as the hoped-for result of such a reduction: higher returns on their product.
Planted acres were stated at 58,000, down from 63,000 in 2004, and Linda Weyers, assistant executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, said that figures in January indicated shipments that month were ahead of the same time period the previous year.
New Jersey's Outstanding Young Farmer helps keep family business thriving
Joe Marino realizes it is a special honor to be named New Jersey's Outstanding Young Farmer.
Being given that honor at the same time as his father, Russell, is receiving a Distinguished Service to New Jersey Agriculture Award, and just months after his mother, Judi, was honored by the Gloucester County Board of Agriculture for her contributions to the industry, makes it even more special for this farmer.
"If anybody's been dedicated to farming and his community, it's my dad," Joe said of his father. "So it is special to receive the awards at the same time."
Chile shifting growing districts for grapes and stone fruit
LANSDALE, PA -- Chilean exporters were moving sourcing from the early, northern Copiapo Valley to Chile's central valley as February arrived, and importers have said that the Chilean grape business was making the transition between the two areas, with late Copiapo grapes showing some discoloration.
Nick Chappell follows passion for produce
Nick Chappell didn't just stumble into fresh produce -- he made a beeline for it. Now a fruit salesman with Watsonville, CA-based California Giant, Mr. Chappell, 23, is the nephew of Cal Giant partner Bill Moncovich. But while that connection might help explain his employment, it does not explain his passion. "As a kid, I said I wanted to follow in Bill's [Moncovich] footsteps," Mr. Chappell said. "I have a passion for it -- every day is a little different."
Shaw's food drive nets 197,110 pounds of food for hungry
The Greater Boston Food Bank announced that it received a record-breaking 62,266 pounds of food through Shaw's sixth annual "Spirit of Giving" food drive, a New England-wide program that benefited eight food banks, which in total collected 197,110 pounds of donated food.
Dole bananas and Universal Pictures team for a little monkey business
Dole bananas, a product of Dole Food Co. Inc. in Westlake Village, CA, will get top billing on the big screen with a starring role in Curious George, an animated film adventure coming to theaters nationwide Feb. 10.