Page 234 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans to increase capacity at the port of Oakland in Oakland, CA, and improve service for shippers of U.S.-grown agricultural commodities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with the port of Oakland to set up a new 25-acre “pop-up” site to make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with commodities.

Sun World International LLC has appointed Jennifer Petersen as executive vice president and chief science officer. In this new leadership position, she will oversee all activities, staff and partnerships pertaining to breeding, variety development, genetics and related technologies.

Being mindful of what’s on your plate is a healthy and effective way to keep your energy levels up and stable throughout the day. Often, out of time constraints or sheer convenience, we turn to snacks like candy, or a cup of coffee as a quick pick-me-up. But the instant boost of energy from processed sugars and caffeine quickly disappears.  

Mission Produce Inc., a leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, recently announced the launch of the “It’s Your Game Too” campaign. In anticipation of the largest avocado-consumption event of the year, the initiative aims to bring Mission Avocados to the forefront of Big Game festivities by inspiring consumers to indulge in a game-time #guacuterie board.

Mother Earth LLC, a fifth-generation company, operates 53 growing houses throughout southern Chester County in West Grove, Oxford, and Landenberg, PA, remaining a big player in the organic mushroom industry. As the calendar turned to 2022, the company was employing a winning strategy for attracting business.

Lisa (Davis) Corrigan, has been appointed director of marketing for Prima Wawona. In this new venture, Corrigan will lead marketing for Prima Wawona on products, brand and industry relations. She will be responsible for the strategic brand positioning, product line strategy, innovation, product portfolio and the overall marketing of the company.

The last weekend of January is expected to see temperatures flirting with freezing in Florida’s strawberry production area near Plant City. Combined with rain during the Jan. 23-29 week, strawberry production is expected to be tight heading into the Valentine’s Day pull.

Experience shows that Mother Nature always has the final say even against the bast laid out agriculture business plans. Last fall’s apple season was directly impacted by devasting weather incidents regionally and in the Pacific Northwest. This was coupled by economic challenges with supply chain issues, scarcities in packing material, daunting labor shortages in every aspect of operations, and a transportation market that defied any normalcy with either pricing or availability.

If you could develop your own produce budget, where would you begin? I asked this question to several produce directors and the majority of the answers were, “I’d start with a realistic gross profit.”

I saw a LinkedIn post recently that stated “Hi, I’m Duhn-neet, not Damn-neat.” The author went on to talk about how her entire life her name was butchered and when being announced anywhere, the presenter or speaker would often precede her name with an “I’m probably going to butcher this name…” and a laugh. I bet you could count five or more instances in your own life where you were in school, a meeting, or at a conference when the speaker said this exact line.