Farm groups protest administration's proposed subsidy cuts
WASHINGTON " Farm groups wasted no time protesting the Bush administration?s proposal to cut farm and commodity subsidies in the 2006 budget.
A coalition of 100 farm groups fired off a letter to newly confirmed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, warning that reductions would "seriously undermine many nutrition, conservation, crop insurance and farm programs that are important to all Americans."
Philadelphia market board making progress on new facility
PHILADELPHIA " As the board of directors of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market emerged from a planning meeting on the afternoon of Feb. 8, board President Jimmy Storey of Quaker City Produce said that the final design for a new Philadelphia produce market had been finally " and officially " accepted.
?It is still a mall-type of effect," as was initially planned. A tired-sounding Mr. Storey added, "We?re a little concerned about parking, and we?re a little concerned about the cost. But we?ll work everything out."
Caliman International now offering goldenberries
Caliman International is expanding its line of products beyond Brazilian papayas and has introduced goldenberries to its lineup. The exotic fruit is also known as cape gooseberry, physalis, ground cherry or poha.
Goldenberries are a popular fruit in Latin American countries as well as in Europe, where Caliman International?s German-based operations have been distributing them for several years.
California strawberry acreage sees slight increase
Although unusually heavy rain in January caused some delays in the Southern California strawberry harvest, growers say that plants are healthy, new fruit is coming on strong, and there should be good volume for the Easter pull.
California strawberry acreage increased by anywhere from 1,700 acres to 3,400 acres each year from 2001 to 2004. This year, the increase is only 998 acres, an increase of about 3.2 percent, according to the California Strawberry Commission?s 2005 acreage survey.
Total planted acreage for 2005 is estimated at 32,636 acres.
Ready Pac to cease production in Spreckels facility
Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac Produce announced Feb. 8 that it will shut down production in its Spreckels, CA, facility " the smaller of the Salinas facilities that it acquired in its recent merger with Salad Time.
Unifrutti to market Sun World grapes
Unifrutti S.A. in Santiago, Chile, has been appointed as a licensed marketer of new seedless grapes developed by Sun World International Inc. in Bakersfield, CA.
The Chilean firm?s nomination enables it to export fruit from the new varieties produced by licensed Sun World producers throughout Chile, according to Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas.
Pink Lady America seeks to stanch trademark infringement
Movement of the popular "Pink Lady? brand apple continues at a brisk pace, according to Pink Lady America Marketing Director Alan Taylor, with shipments early in 2005 up more than 600 percent over the 2002-03 year that saw a devastating crop freeze.
Demand was high during the week of Christmas 2004, and by Jan. 3, a to-date total saw 288 cars compared to 172 cars of Pink Lady apples shipped from the Yakima and Wenatchee districts of Washington state.
Return to Healthy Eating display contest helps reverse flawed low-carb fad
While The Produce News and the Idaho Potato Commission, which co-sponsored a "Return to Healthy Eating? display contest that ran from October through December 2004, can?t take all the credit, the joint effort was undoubtedly one contributing factor in bringing many Americans back to their senses with regard to some of the scientifically flawed premises of low-carbohydrate fad diets.
California growers don't anticipate vegetable supply gap
If prognostications from growers on California?s Central Coast are correct, there won?t be a vegetable supply gap a few months from now despite concerns that heavy rains delayed some plantings.
In speaking with The Produce News on Feb. 8, Tom Nunes Jr., vice president of sales for Salinas, CA-based The Nunes Co. Inc., said that, for example, crops planted three weeks apart could harvest two days apart.
Fresh From D'Vine feeds Silicon Valley corporations
Frank Devine is all about high-tech and biotech. Though he won?t be found in an office cubicle, denizens of Silicon Valley's corporate culture may have him to thank the next time they bite into a piece of fresh produce at work on their lunch hour.