Lobo: Mexico's U.S. promotional programs to be replicated in Canada
The Mexican government's fruit and vegetable promotional programs that have been pursued aggressively in recent years in the United States will now be pursued with similar vigor in Canada, according to Enrique Lobo, Mexico's newly appointed minister of agricultural affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in Ottawa, ON.
Vidalia growers face labor shortage
"Hurricane Katrina has really thrown our growers a curve ball this year," said Wendy Brannen, executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, GA. "Labor has gone south to help the Katrina relief effort, which left us short of labor for planting this year."
On Jan. 30, she said, "Some of Vidalia's major growers have expressed concerns throughout the planting season that there was a labor crunch."
Mango importer expects steady supplies through Peruvian season
"We are just coming off our Ecuadorian fruit," and the Peruvian product has begun to arrive, making for "a very smooth transition from Ecuador to Peru compared to last year," Jesus (Chuy) Loza, a principal at Freska International LLC in Ventura, CA, told The Produce News Jan. 21.
Blyer joins Merex Corp.
Charles (Buzzy) Blyer has been appointed sales manager for Bon Campo, Bon Campo Trattoria and Winterglow consumer packaged goods for Merex Corp., which has operations in Miami, Yonkers, NY, and Phoenix.
Mr. Blyer will work out of the New York area, calling on retail accounts, offering year-round programs, launching the new "Trattoria" brand, and coordinating in-store promotions that feature Bon Campo's three-star chef, Mathieu Frey.
Electronic data interchange transactions being scrutinized by PACA
A produce seller using electronic data interchange when invoicing for product may not be protecting its PACA Trust rights because of a potentially inherent flaw in that system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued an advance notice of a proposed rule-making in response to these concerns raised by Western Growers Association and other industry members.
International standards group to incorporate
The International Federation for Produce Coding is incorporating in England in the first quarter of 2006. The organization will become an independent entity, and "if all goes as planned," it will "probably" become the International Federation for Produce Standards, according to the group's secretary-general, Alicia Calhoun.
Ms. Calhoun serves in that capacity from her post as director of industry technology and standards for the Produce Marketing Association in Newark, DE.
SALINAS SCENE: Ag Against Hunger feeds with 11.9 million pounds of produce
Salinas-based Ag Against Hunger, a clearinghouse for surplus crops grown in the Salinas Valley and the Pajaro Valley, distributed more than 11.9 million pounds of fresh produce to families in need in 2005. Food banks in California's Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties distributed much of this produce.
Ag Against Hunger President Joe Pezzini, who also works for Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms, said that Ag Against Hunger is the "local agricultural industry's way of fighting hunger in our community."
New York Apple Association launches commissary apple display contest
The New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, announced the launch of its annual contest for defense commissaries, which encourages creating big displays of New York-grown apples.
"Over the years, we've worked closely with the Defense Commissary Agency to encourage [it] to promote New York apples in the commissaries," said David McClurg, vice president of marketing for the association.
Pro*Act announces new client services director
Pro*Act in Monterey, CA, has appointed Kirk Massey to its director of client services post.
Mr. Massey brings over 20 years of foodservice produce management experience and produce knowledge to the position at Pro*Act. Since 1997, he has been the produce business manager at Shamrock Foods in Denver. His responsibilities included managing procurement, marketing, sales and operations for produce at the broadline distributor.
EurepGAP elects new board
EurepGAP has announced its new board of directors. The board has four retailer and four supplier seats.
From the retail and foodservice side of the industry are board members Alfons Schmid, vice president of food safety and consumer affairs of Holland-based Ahold, Horst Lang of Globus SB Warenhaus in Germany, Johann Zueblin of Migros, and Stephen Ridge, technical solutions director of U.K. retailer Somerfield.