Retailer sees promotional opportunities for apples throughout the year
The apple does not fall far from promotional opportunities for Modesto, CA-based Save Mart Supermarkets Inc.
Rick Smith, director of produce and floral for Save Mart, said that his philosophy has always been that apples can sell year-round.
"We try to promote some apple every week," Mr. Smith said. "We try to buy domestic and local first.
Mr. Smith's domain is the 80 or so Save Mart and S-Mart stores, all located throughout California. As soon as California apples become available, Save Mart will promote them.
New York apple growers expecting big harvest for 2005
FISHERS, NY -- The New York Apple Association announced Aug. 1 that its annual crop prediction is 27 million bushels for the fall harvest -- an above-average crop, which is expected to produce sweeter-than-normal fruit due to continued sunshine throughout the state.
It is the third year in a row that growers will pick a big crop. The average crop size is 25.5 million bushels, but last year's crop was 30.4 million bushels, which was one of the larger crops ever. The 2003 crop was also more than 30 million bushels, and the 2002 crop was 16 million.
Patrick Lucy switches from pitching baseballs to pitching avocados
He was good enough on the mound to help take the University of San Diego to its first back-to-back conference championships and to spend a year in the pros before his elbow gave out. Now Patrick Lucy, 24, is on the sales desk at Del Rey Avocado Co. Inc. in Fallbrook, CA, pitching avocados to buyers and learning the business from the ground up. The son of Bob Lucy, a partner in Del Rey Avocado, Mr. Lucy is the second member of the second generation to join the company this year.
FMI exploring partnership opportunities for trade show
The Food Marketing Institute is exploring partnership opportunities for its trade show, but that should not negatively affect the United trade show, which runs at the same time, according to United President and CEO Tom Stenzel.
"We see it as a positive thing," Mr. Stenzel told The Produce News on Wednesday, Aug. 9, as he was traveling to the Texas produce industry's convention and trade show.
Jersey Fresh has new agency
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus announced that the Jersey Fresh advertising and marketing program will soon get a fresh approach. The department recently awarded its three-year Jersey Fresh advertising, marketing and promotional contract to CMD & Partners in Fairfield, NJ.
USDA renews produce industry panel for two more years
WASHINGTON -- The Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee will meet for two more years to advise the U.S. Department of Agriculture on government policies that can affect how produce companies do business.
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns renewed the charter for the four-year-old advisory committee, allowing it to operate until 2007, and is now seeking the names of nominees to help guide the U.S. Department of Agriculture on pressing issues.
California subsidiary to help round out Seald-Sweet's offerings
Vero Beach, FL-based Seald-Sweet announced the opening of Seald-Sweet West International Inc. in Visalia, CA. In making the announcement, Seald-Sweet Senior Vice Presidents David Mixon and Mayda Sotomayor also announced that David Muse has joined the company and will immediately assume the position of vice president of operations, sales and marketing at the new location.
New Chicago market is maturing and succeeding
Several board members of the three-year-old Chicago International Produce Market indicate that the move from the historic, but highly antiquated, South Water Street Market was an extremely good one.
California Strawberry Commission president to resign
Rodger Wasson, president of the California Strawberry Commission since May 2002, announced his resignation from the commission, effective Sept. 15.
Mr. Wasson told The Produce News that his decision to resign was reached mutually with the executive committee of the commission and that he had alerted them at several points during his tenure that he felt the day would come when the commission would be better served by finding his replacement.
The commission is a state government agency that represents an industry of about 510 growers and 75 shippers and processors.
In Colorado, good snowpack has made 'more normal' water situation
While reservoirs across Colorado were nearing capacity in late June and early July and easing a water shortage that in 2002 had thrown 85 percent of the state into dangerously dry conditions, not all farmers were ready to say their concerns over water have ended.
However, Mike Gillespie, snow survey supervisor for the Natural Resources Conservation Survey, said at a mid-May press briefing in Denver that year-to-date snow totals were closer to average than the past seven, and most water-storage facilities were at 89 percent capacity or better at that juncture.