Florida tomatoes suffer again
Year-to-date, the Florida tomato industry is behind by about 6 million boxes from previous years. Approximately 5 million of that figure is directly attributable to crop damage and losses that resulted from the four hurricanes that hit the state in August and September of last year. But the remaining 1 million-box decline is being blamed on spring shortages due to unusually bad weather in the state during the current growing season as well as some sporadic disease problems.
Calif. onions expected down due to rain
The 2005 California onion harvest is expected to kick off in the Imperial Valley in late April, a few days later than normal, with good quality but smaller sizes expected and volume lighter than usual due to weather.
A similar situation is anticipated later in the season as the onion harvest moves north into the central San Joaquin Valley.
Sonora Spring Grapes program expands to smaller retail chains
Now in its eighth year, the merchandising and promotion program for Sonora Spring Grapes has been highly successful, resulting in broader acceptance of Mexican-grown grapes by U.S. retailers, according to Veronica Kraushaar, president of Vanguard Marketing Strategies.
Those programs, which initially focused on major chains, are now being expanded to regional chains and even to smaller ethnic groups.
Apple industry joins groups in urging CAFTA-DR vote
WASHINGTON " More than 50 groups rallied on Capitol Hill, along with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, to urge approval of the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic, known as CAFTA-DR, as Congress began hearings on the controversial trade pact.
John Schouten accepts newly created role at Ready Pac Produce
Ready Pac in Irwindale, CA, has announced that John Schouten has joined the executive team in the newly created role of executive vice president and chief operating officer, reporting directly to Larry Kern, president and chief executive officer.
Oppenheimer extends Mexican grape season with new growers
With the addition of two new growers, The Oppenheimer Group is forecasting its longest and most strategic Mexican grape season to date.
This year marks the fifth season that Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer will represent grapes grown by the Platt Bros. in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This year, Oppenheimer has added a second grower in that area, Vi?edo Monte Cristo, as well as Vi?edo Maribel in Caborca, a city located northwest of Hermosillo.
Chilean fruit season to set new volume records
Sometimes those issues that seem to be a problem turn out just fine. So it has gone for those in the Chilean fruit business this year.
Rain early in the season harmed the cherry harvest, and for grapes and other items, it reduced export levels through the season?s first couple of months. The industry began to rebound in February, and has come on so strongly that this will become a record year for Chilean export volumes to the United States, Tom Tjerandsen, managing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association in Sacramento, CA, told The Produce News April 11.
Fran Boetes leaves Brooks to start his own firm
Fran Boetes, who oversaw sales, marketing, transportation and fruit purchasing for Brooks Tropicals as senior vice president of marketing and sales, left the company March 31 to begin his own management strategy and marketing consulting firm, Frans H. Boetes LLC, based in Miami.
PMA releases safe produce handling messages in Spanish
Since 1998, the Produce Marketing Association, based in Newark, DE, has addressed food safety at the consumer level through its financial support of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to educating consumers at home and at work about safe food handling.
During PMA?s Fresh Summit 2004 in Anaheim, CA, PMA and the PFSE unveiled produce-specific safe handling messages for consumers; now, these valuable consumer-education tools have been released in Spanish.
2005 Mexican grape season looking similar to banner 2003 season
Last year was not a particularly good year for Mexican grapes, according to shippers and distributors in Nogales, AZ, who handle the products. Volume was down, and quality was problematic at times. But two years ago was another matter. That, they say, was a banner year, with a combination of strong volume and outstanding quality that resulted in strong demand. This year, there is an air of optimism among marketers of Mexican grapes as it appears that the 2005 crop will be very similar to 2003 with regard to both volume and quality.