IPC unveils new 'Idaho' label for potato bags
SUN VALLEY, ID At a meeting held here Aug. 31, the Idaho Potato Commission unveiled a new "Idaho" label that shippers can use at their option on bags of Idaho-grown potatoes.
In announcing the new label, commission President Frank Muir emphasized that it is not mandatory and will not be featured in commission advertising programs, which will focus, rather, on the Grown in Idaho seal. But he said that it makes sense for shippers to use the new Idaho label as an opportunity to market Idaho.
IGA Hometown Wheels' Dream Ride raises $60,000 for charity
CHESHIRE, CT Bozzuto's Inc. and IGA Hometown Wheels held their fifth annual Dream Ride Aug. 21 at the Farmington (CT) Club, raising over $60,000 for Connecticuts Special Olympics program.
Adam J. Bozzuto, founder of Bozzutos, had a dream to build a facility in Connecticut where special children could thrive and experience joy from the opportunities that the facility could provide. For the last five years, Bozzutos, in conjunction with IGA Hometown Wheels and local sponsors, has set forth to make that dream a reality with the annual Dream Ride.
Murai fills interim post for strawberry commission
Santa Ana, CA-based strawberry grower Mark Murai assumed the role of interim president of the California Strawberry Commission, effective Aug. 29.
Mr. Murai, a third-generation Orange County grower and president of Murai Farms, has served on the commission's board of directors for 17 years and led the organization as its chairman of the board from 2002 to 2004. As chairman, he regularly communicated with state, federal and international governments. Prior to accepting the appointment, Mr. Murai was a grower member-at-large with the commission.
FDA warns processors of basil recall
WASHINGTON Federal food safety officials warned processors and repackers about a recall of basil after saying a California company was not doing enough to alert its consignees to the problem.
Majestic International Spice Corp. in Montebello, CA, is recalling its dehydrated Extra Fancy Basil in 12.5-kilogram bags because FDA said that it found the product contaminated with Salmonella Blockley during routine sampling.
Louisiana sweet potatoes appear to have escaped damage from Katrina
Hurricane Katrina's course on Aug. 29 devastated New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama, but the Louisiana sweet potato crop appears unscathed by the ferocious weather event.
Sweet potato shipper Matthew Garber of Garber Farms in Iota, LA, which started shipping new-crop sweet potatoes in mid-August, said Aug. 30 that "the most rain any Louisiana sweet potato field caught was one-and-a-quarter inches. It was pretty much not a big issue [for the Louisiana sweet potato industry]. The crop is fine."
Four Seasons to close Texas division
Four Seasons Produce Inc. in Ephrata, PA, announced Aug. 26 that it will close its Donna, TX-based division, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP, by Nov. 1.
In a statement, Ron Carkoski, president and chief executive officer of parent company Four Seasons Produce Inc., called it "strictly a business decision" based on Four Seasons Trading Co. LP's ineffective performance. He said that the move will allow the company to focus on its vibrant market in the mid-Atlantic region.
Epic Roots introduces its new ready-to-cook 'Chard Mix'
Salinas, CA-based Epic Roots LLC, a grower and distributor of specialty greens, has announced the introduction of "Chard Mix," a ready-to-cook, multi-colored assortment of Bright Lights chard and Salad Savoy.
Bright Lights is a new generation of Swiss chard with delicately flavored brightly colored leaves of gold, orange, pink, red and white. Salad Savoy is a member of the cabbage family, while chard is actually a beet green that is grown for its delicious and nutritious leaves rather than its root.
PMA moves forward on RFID initiative and develops DVD
The Produce Marketing Association's task force moved forward with its effort to create a laymans DVD for using radio frequency identification. The task force met Aug. 18 in Dallas.
Michael McCartney, principal of QLM Consulting and chairman of Produce Marketing Associations RFID produce action group, said that the DVD will be ready before PMAs Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta in early November and will be on hand at the convention. The cost of the DVD has yet to be determined, Mr. McCartney said.
Calif. Table Grape Commission promotes late-season grapes
The California table grape season begins in May, but more than half the crop is shipped from September forward.
According to the California Table Grape Commission, "Typically 55 percent of the crop is shipped after August 31 of each year. Furthermore, out of 63 commercial varieties of fresh California table grapes, 49 of them are available during the September-through-December time period," including 14 major varieties.
Those varieties include seedless and seeded grapes in the green, red and blue-black categories.
Jeff Ritts joins Domex
Jeff Ritts has joined Domex Inc. in Yakima, WA, as an organic specialist.
The recent agreement between Domex and Blue Bird Inc. to market Blue Bird's organic product lines created the need for a dedicated organic account representative.
"Jeff brings a unique array of talents to our Domex team," company President Robert Kershaw said in a statement. His passion for the industry is clearly evident and his experience in organic and conventional fruit is a perfect fit for our current and future organic goals.