Page 117 - Roduce Editorials News Today

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on Ayar Produce NY Inc., J&J Distributing Co. and R&S Export & Import Inc. for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include barring the businesses and the principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Stemilt Growers participated in its national holiday, Chant at the Moon Day, celebrating the 10th harvest of its high-elevation, A Half Mile Closer to the Moon cherries. Fourth-generation cherry grower Kyle Mathison kicked off the early morning festivities with his usual charm, gracious words and cherry charisma.

Favorable microclimate, proximity to the market and new investment put Fowler Farms in a particularly advantageous position for the upcoming Eastern apple season. “Our microclimate allows us to produce apples with consistency of supply and flavor year-in and year-out,” said Austin Fowler, sixth-generation owner and vice president of sales and marketing for the Wolcott, NY-based company. “We feel we grow fruit with excellent flavor more consistently than many other areas who struggle with t...

Robert Irvine, a Food Network star, world class chef and philanthropist, led a lively discussion along with co-host Leslie Sbrocoo at the recent International Fresh Produce Association Foodservice Conference. Irvine focused on changing the trajectory of how we eat. Irvine humored the crowd, saying at the age of 11, having joined a home economics course and “after chasing the pretty girls, it was quiche Lorraine and watching people’s enjoyment eating it, that got me into food. From that poin...

When federal workplace safety inspectors visited three Dollar General stores in Georgia earlier this year, they found exit routes obstructed, boxes of merchandise stacked unsafely and electrical panels hard to access, violations often cited at Dollar General locations.

By early-August, Peru had shipped nearly 200 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. market with the expectation that it would ship another 100 million pounds during the final two months of its season, smashing its previous record by nearly 50 percent.

Next Big Thing, a cooperative of dedicated growers at orchards from Nova Scotia to Washington state, was formed to research and promote new apple varieties in 2006. “SweeTango was our first managed variety and we continue to look for additional varieties to promote,” said Jennifer Parkhill, executive director of Next Big Thing. “SweeTango’s success hinges on our growers’ commitment to a common goal — producing a superior apple.”

Two of the top high-volume categories are grapes and melons. Advertising and promoting both will boost your produce sales tremendously along with some substantial gross profit. This is the best time of the season to set up some nice attractive California grape displays as well as large mixed melon presentations.

For 48 years, Grapeman Farms has been growing the highest quality of grapes at its vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley, and the company is continuing its long tradition as a leader in California grapes this season.

Gini Richards has joined the Monterey Mushrooms sales team. She brings over 18 years of account management experience. Richards is no stranger to the Florida and Puerto Rico markets, where she previously served as Sunkist Growers' strategic account manager for those regions. Richards will manage fresh mushroom sales for both retail and foodservice business in the Southeast region.