BOISE, ID — The 75-year-old Idaho Potato Commission has historically focused its marketing efforts on the domestic market, but about eight years ago the group began to undertake an international market development program.

PECO Pallet in Yonkers, NY, “offers complete pallet pooling solutions for watermelon growers and shippers” throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada, according to a written statement furnished by the company to The Produce News Jan. 25. “Over the last few years, more and more watermelon growers have partnered with PECO Pallet because of the company’s ongoing commitment to quality, service and safety.”

PECO has built its reputation “by consistently supplying high-quality pallets” and by its responsive service, according to the statement.

As of Jan. 26, Sydney, FL-based Tater Man had already started its 2013 season. “The demand for our fresh sweets is as early as possible,“ said Jason Bell, account manager. “Our processing partners have been able to expand their production windows and take on new business, which is keeping the demand on our crops extremely strong.”

A new group formed to enhance consumer and retail confidence in the Eastern cantaloupe supply chain will kick off with a round of meetings Feb. 11 in Atlanta for foodservice and retail buyers.

The newly established Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association met in early January with cantaloupe growers and potential members hailing from Indiana down to southern Florida. Having solidified mandatory food-safety guidelines for the association, the group is now ready to unveil these standards to its produce purchasers.  

The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers will celebrate its silver anniversary with four regional meetings in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and at a location yet to be named.

The regional meetings will be shorter this year, according to an association news release, and each will have a different feducational focus.

“On the Farm” will be the topic for the March 4-5 farm tours and demonstrations at the Hill County Farm in Wimberly, TX. Frank and Amanda Arnosky will lead a program on Texas specialty cut flowers.

According to a recent survey, 85 percent of consumers have no idea where their flowers come from, but a majority of them would choose domestically grown flowers over imports. Yet, with about 80 percent of the U.S. floral market supplied by imports today, that choice is limited, if not altogether unavailable to consumers.