USDA to close two PACA branch offices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will close two of its five PACA branch offices in February as a cost-cutting measure, according to Bruce Summers, chief of the PACA.
According to Mr. Summers, who was installed as chief of the PACA about four months ago, closing the Northeast regional office in New Brunswick, NJ, and the Midwest regional office in Glen Ellyn, IL, will result in a savings of over $1 million annually.
Best opportunity to grow produce sales seen in snacks
According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, the key for retailers to sell more fruits and vegetables is to pitch them as snacks because consumers are already eating lots of fruit at breakfast while losing interest in cooking vegetable side dishes at dinnertime.
This was just one of the messages from PBH's 2005 State of the Plate Research on-line seminar designed to help retailers boost fresh produce sales.
AgraCo named Exporter of the Year by export magazine
AgraCo Technologies, based in Lafayette Hill, PA, has been awarded a 2005 ThinkGlobal/Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA.
Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a catalog-style magazine distributed to approximately 400,000 readers in 145 countries worldwide. Awards are given to one U.S. company in each of 14 industry categories. AgraCo Technologies, a privately held company, was named Exporter of the Year in the agriculture category.
FLORAL FOCUS: Retreats and advances
The "retreat" (my name for it) at the Pro Institute held Sept. 18-21 in Volcano, CA, was both peaceful and exhilarating.
There were no TVs, no telephones, no radios and no newspapers at the 100-year-old St. George Hotel. No one had cell phone recepti on either except for magical William from Passion Flowers, who somehow could call Colombia. I was not jealous. I loved the serenity of this historic place -- the buildings of the town have been maintained or restored to their original 19th century gl ory and gorgeous gardens abound.
Dole Fresh vegetables announces voluntary recall of Dole packaged salads
SALINAS, CA -- Dole Fresh Vegetables, a division of Dole Food Co. Inc., announced that it is cooperating with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Minnesota and California departments of health regarding an investigation of an outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7, between Sept. 13, and Sept. 19, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area of Minnesota.
WGA and FFVA announce strategic partnership
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association based in Maitland and Western Growers Association in Irvine, CA, announced Sept. 28 that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding that will increase cooperation, collaboration and the sharing of some member services between their organizations.
Driscoll on pace to have all its growers obtain EurepGap certification by end of this year
In an initiative that dates back to 2003, Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates expects to have all its growers meet EurepGap certification by the end of 2005, regardless of the region in which they operate.
Philadelphia market site formally announced
PHILADELPHIA -- "The produce building will begin about here."
It was an extraordinary bus tour. The "street beneath the wheels of the big bus was the now-unused runway of Philadelphia's abandoned navy yard. The brambles to the right will be converted into the world's most modern fresh produce market before 2008.
Sonny DiCrecchio, executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, was the tour guide. Aboard the bus were Philadelphia's produce merchants.
Ken Green and A&P part ways
Continuing its restructuring and downsizing, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc., based in Montvale, NJ, ended its employment relationship with Ken Green, vice president of produce merchandising, as well as a number of other people at that level, on Monday, Sept. 26.
MyPyramid for Kids welcomed by produce industry
WASHINGTON -- The produce industry hailed the new food pyramid's children-only version as a great opportunity for promoting children's health, but warned against complacency in selling a healthy diet to kids.
"With most children eating less than half the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy diet, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's release of MyPyramid for Kids is a positive step toward promoting children's health and fighting childhood obesity," said Elizabeth Pivonka, president of the Produce for Better Health Foundation.