Page 131 - Roduce Editorials News Today

It’s doubtful that Colorado farmer Bob Sakata ever set out to be an icon, but that’s the status he attained through a long, productive lifetime devoted to farming and agriculture as well as advocacy and activism for the important industries in his state.

Like all great stories of legacy, it starts with a person and a vision. In the case of Westlake Produce Co., it began with two: Joe Sims and Bill Brooks Sr., in 1962. The integrity with which Westlake operates today can be traced back to the early Brooks and Sims philosophies.

Perhaps one statistic is all that is needed to illustrate the fact that when it comes to produce, PhilaPort leads the way as the go-to port for perishables. “At most ports, refrigerated containers make up a single-digit percentage of the total,” said Dominic O’Brien, senior marketing manager at PhilaPort. “Here in Philadelphia, it is 54 percent.”

While the Well•Pict trade show crew is in its own backyard for the Organic Produce Summit, summer is in full swing — and so is the company's strawberry production.

National and state agricultural leaders joined legislators to call on Congress to pass bipartisan workforce solutions to address the farm labor shortage in order to combat inflation. Press conference speakers rallied support for Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) as they continue their bipartisan efforts to introduce Senate legislation that builds on the House-passed Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which passed both in 2019 and 2021, with strong bipartisan support.

Fresh berry leader Driscoll’s and industry partners announced winners of the Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge. Carbon Upcycling Technologies and Enerra Corp. were selected as this year’s winners for their innovation, business viability, focus on sustainability, scalability of their solution and the strength of their ecosystem. The selection process included more than 200 innovations from four continents with a wide range of solutions- new materials, design improvements and end-of-l...

Manfredi Cold Storage offers cold storage, repacking, refrigerated freight and other services to the produce industry. The company has recently expanded throughout its home in Kennett Square, PA and also at its newest facility in Pedricktown, NJ.

Are you ready to explore the great outdoors this Summer? No pre-adventure checklist is complete unless you have the snacks accounted for. Rewarding and satisfying, enjoying a treat along the way just adds to the adventure experience. Fresh fruits and veggies are a great source of nutrients and best of all they are easy to pack and better fuel than other quick, pre-packaged choices. Fueling your body with hydrating produce, especially in the warmer weather, is the way to go to complement your bes...

The Produce for Better Health Foundation is setting its sights on September to commemorate its fourth annual National Fruits & Veggies Month celebration. Launched alongside the Have A Plant Movement in 2019 as an opportunity to elevate fruit and vegetable consumption to a national priority, the annual month-long celebration has reached more than 100 million impressions collectively since its inception.

Wild River Fruit expanded its certified organic gold kiwifruit program. The third-generation company’s first block of gold kiwi was certified organic in 2018, but its limited volume has quickly sold out in recent seasons. This year, Wild River has completed a successful transition of additional maturing acreage and expects to be offering a season-long program as a complement to its organic green kiwifruit program, from October through the winter.