FTC continues plea for relaxed standards
Reggie Brown, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee in Maitland, FL, said that the response from the retail and foodservice industries to Florida tomato grower's plea to relax standards on tomatoes has already received some positive response.
The committee, backed by those who farm, pack, distribute and market tomatoes from Florida, made the plea just prior to the recent PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta as a result of the damage done to tomato crops by Hurricane Wilma in late October.
Branding keeps Pink Lady in forefront of marketing
As Pink Lady America continues to build on its success as the only apple variety approved by the American Heart Association Food Certification Program, Pink Lady Marketing Director Alan Taylor said, "We're very much interested in branding this product."
The unique characteristics of the apple include a striking pink skin, complex tart-sweet flavor and the ability to maintain a white flesh longer when cut, Mr. Taylor noted, and those attributes make branding a logical move.
New CCM chairman stresses unity in addressing industry issues
"Never in the history of the [California citrus] industry have we been so united," said Philip LoBue, president of LoBue Bros. Inc., a citrus packinghouse in Lindsay, CA, who was elected chairman of the board of directors of California Citrus Mutual at the organization's recent annual meeting.
RETAIL VIEW: Wal-Mart shines academic light on itself
On Nov. 4 in the nation's capital, a group of academics got together and discussed whether Wal-Mart has a positive or negative impact on America and the local economies of the towns it enters. That has been a much-debated topic in city council chambers and county supervisor offices throughout the country. What made this conference unique is that Wal-Mart itself sponsored it and set it up to be as unbiased as possible.
Impact of China the hot topic at annual garlic industry breakfast
ATLANTA -- Sal Vacca of A.J. Trucco seemed to speak for everyone assembled at the garlic industry's Nov. 6 breakfast at the PMA Fresh Summit when he referred to Chinese garlic as "a thorn in our heart."
Others in attendance at the breakfast echoed Mr. Vacca's lament, and few expressed hope of stemming the tide of Chinese garlic imports that continue to plague U.S. grower- shippers as well as those in Mexico.
Pohmer named PMA's Floral Marketer of the Year
Stan Pohmer, founder and chief executive officer of Pohmer Consulting Group, received the 2005 Floral Marketer of the Year Award during the Nov. 6 breakfast general session at the Produce Marketing Association's 2005 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta.
This marks the 25th annual presentation of the award recognizing an outstanding individual who has served the mass-market floral industry with dedication and distinction.
COOL bumped back two years, PMA proposes voluntary solution to USDA
ATLANTA -- With President Bush's signature, which is expected shortly, the start date of mandatory country-of- origin labeling for produce will be officially extended to Sept. 30, 2008.
Proposed table grape marketing order changes unlikely to affect Chilean shipments in 2006
On Oct. 31, ASOEX, Asociacion de Exportadores de Chile (also known as the Chilean Exporters Association), asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the comment period for an effort by the Coachella growers, known as the Desert Grape League, to change the regulatory periods for grapes that they grow and also for table grapes supplied from Chile and Mexico. This is USDA's Marketing Order 925 and Import Regulation 4.
Intra-Washington refrigerated intermodal train service plan scrapped, Pat Boss says
In early November letters to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, Washington consultant Pat Boss asked the two political leaders to "urge [Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad] to immediately reinstate its dedicated refrigerated intermodal service in central Washington to avoid a potential crisis situation for perishable shipments to Seattle and Tacoma."
Grade standards thrust of National Mango Board meeting
ATLANTA -- Standardization in evaluating mangos during inspection should help the industry move forward, according to Leanne Skelton, chief of the fresh products branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Ms. Skelton made her comments Nov. 6 to an assembled meeting of the National Mango Board during the Produce Marketing Association's international convention and exposition, here.