March 10, 2021
National Watermelon Promotion Board held its biannual board meeting virtually on Saturday, March 6 during which board member Jordan Carter was elected president by her peers, becoming the first woman to serve in this position. Prior to this nomination, Carter (District 3, Cordele, GA) served as secretary/treasurer as well as interim president since January 2021.
“I am overjoyed and beyond honored to serve as president and want to make my time in service meaningful,” said Carter. “I am so grateful to be a part of an amazing board of directors who work hard every day to promote watermelon and all of its goodness. I am looking forward to supporting initiatives that inspire each other and to developing relationships for continued growth. Together, we can bring fresh insights and energy to carry out our shared goals of increasing demand for watermelon.”
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March 10, 2021
On March 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced suspension of the South Texas Onion Marketing Order provisions. This action is a result of a referendum held by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service concerning continuance of the marketing order.
According to an AMS release, in the referendum, held Sept. 21 through Oct. 13, 57 percent of south Texas onion producers, representing 53 percent of the volume produced by those voting, favored continuing the marketing order. For the marketing order to continue, two-thirds or more of producers voting, or producers representing the production of two-thirds or more of the volume produced, needed to vote in favor of continuance.
March 9, 2021
Bashas’ Family of Stores has added two new people to its executive leadership team. The family-run company which operates Food City, AJ s Fine Foods, Eddie s Country Store, and both Bashas and Bashas Diné supermarkets has appointed Sue Klug to its board of directors and Steve Mayer as its senior vice president of marketing, merchandising and procurement for its more than 100 grocery stores across Arizona.
With a rare blend of experience in retailing and sustainability, Klug’s expertise spans operations, finance and marketing in the grocery industry. Most recently, she was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Republic Services, a national recycling and non-hazardous waste disposal company based in Phoenix.
March 9, 2021
Okanagan Specialty Fruits, developer and grower behind the innovative Arctic apple, announced a line of staff changes and promotions in 2021 at the vice president and manager level.
Jenn Armen - vice president of marketing and sales is now vice president of business and corporate development
Don Westcott - director of operations has been promoted to vice president of operations, marketing and sales
Marcy Keehn - HR manager has been promoted to the director of HR and admin
Jodi Green - marketing manager has been promoted to senior marketing manager
Monica Meinen – production scheduling coordinator has been promoted to production manager
March 9, 2021
The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association reported a 3 percent increase in volume year-over-year for 2020 imports. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service statistics, Peruvian asparagus imports have grown to over 206 million pounds in 2020. Peru is ranked as one of the top five countries that make up the majority contribution of fresh asparagus consumption in the United States for 2020.
As a principal contributor to the United States fresh asparagus consumption market, Peru has maintained consistent quality supply to retailers on a year-round basis. “Peru continues to be a vital supplier to United States retailers, said Walter Yager of Alpine Fresh in Doral, FL, and co-chairman of PAIA. Our late spring and into summer supplies look to be exceptional and U.S. retailers can count on Peru to continue that steady supply of fresh asparagus throughout 2021.”