Onion crop makes seasonal transition to Texas
As April gets long in the tooth, the relatively seamless transition between onion production from Mexico and south Texas is just about complete, as producers from the Lone Star State anticipate a better second half of the season.
CMI continues to explore some innovative p-o-s strategies
On the heels of its recent "Golden Oldies" series of point-of-sale graphics and collateral material distribution, Columbia Marketing International Corp. in Wenatchee, WA, is rolling out a new campaign at the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association convention and expo in Chicago April 30 - May 3.
According to CMI Director of Marketing Bob Mast, this most recent strategy combines eye-catching high-quality graphics with education, and it brings in elements of cross merchandising as well.
D.J. Forry signs deal to market organic fruit from California Tree Ripe
REEDLEY, CA - "Just as of today, we have an agreement with D.J. Forry to do the sales for us," Mark Nakata of California Tree Ripe in Fresno, CA, told The Produce News on Tuesday, April 19.
"We feel like we have a good synergy with these folks, he said. "We feel that they are people of high integrity, and we have every confidence we will be able to grow our program with them on a very positive basis.
California Tree Ripe is a certified organic packer and shipper that expects to have approximately 165,000 boxes of tree fruit this season.
Refrigerated space available for South American markets
PHILADELPHIA - At an April 18 breakfast meeting in the grand Racquet Club of Philadelphia, the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia convened to discuss exporting goods from the Delaware Valley to Brazil and Chile.
A number of speakers addressed the opportunities in these South American markets, although no mention was made of southbound perishable exports. Tens of millions of boxes of refrigerated Chilean and Brazilian produce arrive each winter into the seaports of the Delaware Valley.
BC Hot House is heating things up at Frieda's
Frieda's Inc. in Los Angeles has announced its exclusive marketing agreement with BC Hot House Foods Inc. in Vancouver, BC, producers of premium products grown indoors in a hydroponic, climate-controlled environment.
Born in greenhouses resembling exclusive high-tech spas for plants, Friedas newest crop of produce receives natural sunlight, ventilation, plant nutrition and carbon dioxide exactly when it wants it.
Kroger's Tenney to be featured speaker at United reception honoring women in produce
WASHINGTON - The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association announced that Jenney Tenney, produce merchandiser for The Kroger Co.'s Great Lakes Division, will be the featured speaker at the 2005 Women in Produce reception during the United Produce Show at FMI, April 30-May 3 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The annual reception honors all women working in the produce industry, and recognizes one outstanding female industry leader.
Kern County potato acreage drops
California new potato growers and handlers from the Kern County district hope that their potatoes - dug, packed and shipped without moving into cold storage - really are a hot potato in a true marketing sense.
It is this rush to freshness that makes California new potatoes unique, since most potatoes marketed nationwide are done so out of storage.
Sunkist teams with Culinary Institute Of America to host citrus c?l?bre
SHERMAN OAKS, CA Sunkist Growers Inc., in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, CA, hosted the fourth annual Sunkist Citrus C?l?bre, an event that brings together culinary innovators from North America to explore creative cooking with citrus.
The event, held Feb. 1-4, gave chefs, marketers, educators and distributors an opportunity to explore world citrus trends and get an in-depth look at citrus varieties.
Mid-April temperatures hit record lows in Washington state
A mid-April freeze in the Yakima and Chelan growing regions of Washington state prompted many growers to utilize smudge pots for heat and crank up their propane or gas-powered wind machines to blow warm air across their in-bloom fruit trees.
However, while overnight temperatures reached a record low of 20 degrees in the Yakima area, only minimal damage has been assessed.
Oregon Senate vote names pear state's official fruit
The Oregon Senate in Milwaukie voted to designate pears the official state fruit of Oregon, bringing to a close a fruitful endeavor initiated by the Pear Bureau Northwest on behalf of Oregon's 370 pear growers.