Page 233 - Roduce Editorials News Today

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council announced its incoming 2022 board of directors, outgoing directors and congratulated the 2021 Apprentice Class. Traditionally, the departing and incoming chairs would be announced and pass the gavel at the FPFC Dinner Dance; however, its dinner dance has now been rescheduled, set for May 21, at the Langham Pasadena Hotel.

Andy D’Arrigo was born in Stockton, CA, on Feb. 1, 1924 to Stefano and Concetta D’Arrigo.  Stefano, an immigrant from Messina, Sicily, arrived at the immigration station at Ellis Island in New York aboard RMS Cretic on May 5, 1911 at the age of 17.

BDA/ Dorot Farm, an exporter of fresh and sweet carrots from Israel, has its first loads of fresh jumbo and cello carrots arriving to the Northeast market with fresh production.

The new season of Egyptian citrus that started in mid-November is now in full swing. Vanguard International is expecting another very strong season — however, likely not a record-breaking one. Weather has affected growers differently depending which area their crops are in. Certain citrus growers in the region are noting an increase in volume between 15 and 25 percent, while others are recording a reduction of up to 40 percent.

Kurt Zuhlke has been a leader in the produce packaging industry for generations, but even with all his experience, he never saw a month as busy as December of 2021, which he said is the best month his firm, Kurt Zuhlke & Associates, has ever had in its history.

The Giumarra Cos. announced the centennial anniversary of its wholesale produce business, Giumarra Brothers Fruit Company. The company’s wholesale operation was founded in Los Angeles in 1922 by Giuseppe (Joe) Giumarra and his brothers.

For Divine Flavor, nothing says fresh more than a sweet and mildly spiced Bell pepper, a juicy rich tomato, or a fresh crisp cucumber coming from Sinaloa, Mexico. During the winter and early spring months, the Culiacán region is the heart of Divine Flavor’s vegetable program producing a variety of products such as their organic-colored Bell peppers, Roma and beefsteak tomatoes, Magnífico grape tomatoes, or the long English and Persian cucumbers.

International Greenhouse Produce, a Culiacan, Mexico-based grower-shipper with deep roots, has relaunched its Garden Queen brand with bright new graphics and a tagline that represents its value proposition: “Happy veggies for happy people.”

“Organic is a huge focus for us in January and February,” said Patrick Lucy, president of Del Rey Avocado Co., based in Fallbrook, CA. “People are trying to eat healthy starting off the new year, and there is not a better tasting or healthier option for food than organic avocados.” 

The California Avocado Commission’s 2022 pre-season forecast projects a 306-million-pound crop, which is nearly a 15 percent increase over the last fiscal year. The majority of the harvest will be the Hass variety; Lamb Hass, GEM and other varieties also are being commercially grown.