Page 51 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Mother Nature has not exactly been cooperating with the new crops in the desert farming area. Colder-than-normal temperatures are slowing down the growth of many vegetables, especially lettuce. This has caused some traces of ice to settle on the lettuce. The markets continue to remain at elevated levels on a demand-exceeds-supply status.

Florida produce is so good that it isn’t just popular in the Sunshine State, it’s renowned the world over. One key organization that is committed to supporting Florida’s growers is the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, which is the state’s leading full-service specialty crop organization. Since 1943, the FFVA has promoted an array of crops, including vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, and more, with the mission to enhance Florida’s produce business and foster a compe...

A trio of operators participating in the controlled environment agriculture space reported a bright future with potential for significant growth, especially in the organic category, at a seminar held during the recent Organic Growers Summit.

On Jan. 1, industry veteran Amy Philpott will launch a new public relations firm that focuses on empowering food companies and organizations to communicate with their stakeholders about sensitive modern-day issues such as sustainability, biotechnology, food safety, worker safety and food additives.

What started off in 2006 as a program that comprised a few hundred thousand boxes of table grapes would soon turn into a produce brand accounting for more than 10 million boxes a year as Divine Flavor enters its 16th season. 

Bob Davis, vice president of Maine Farmers Exchange, said the weather in the Northeast during the Maine potato growing season was perfect. “I call it ‘pushbutton’ weather,” he said. “Every time we needed a little rain, we got it. During May and June, it would dry out a bit and then we would get the perfect amount of rain.” Davis said yields were good on all varieties. “The crop is not as big as last year and the yields weren’t quite as good, but they are above average,” he said...

The Southeast Produce Council has an exceptional lineup of speakers for upcoming Southern Exposure: Produce — The Final Frontier. Blasting off March 3-5 at the Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL, the conference will encompass SEPC Chairman Tim Graas’ platform: inspiring innovation today for a sustainable tomorrow.

The Organic Grower Summit, held Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, CA, provided two exceptional days of thought-provoking educational sessions, a sold-out trade show floor and a variety of networking opportunities for attendees.

In his 35 years as a tomato specialist, Joe Bernardi of Bernardi & Associates has never seen the price of red round tomatoes soar as high as they currently are.  “The prices are historically high,” he said on Nov. 28. “Today a 25 pound box of rounds was being quoted at $50.95. A typical market at this time of year would be $16 to $20.”

Nancy Campoli, Carolinas and Midwest sales manager for The Produce News, died suddenly Saturday, Dec. 3. She was 61. Nancy was born in Westwood, NJ, on Aug. 26, 1961. She graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, which served her and advertisers well throughout her career.