Naples, FL-based Naturipe Farms LLC will have limited supplies of blueberries from Argentina in September, with volumes expected to surge around early November. Brian Bocock, vice president of sales for Naturipe, told The Produce News Aug. 30 that blueberry prices likely will be high through October. Peak blueberry volume from Argentina should be from mid-November through Thanksgiving, he said. "Argentina winds down hard in December and gets into January," Mr. Bocock said. "It's done by mid-January." There should be ample blueberry volumes for retailers to put on ad for Thanksgiving, he said

NAPLES, FL -- While food safety remained top of mind, Florida growers, shippers and distributors of fresh produce were equally concerned with how to best market their offerings during rocky economic times when they gathered Sept. 18-21 for the 67th annual Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association convention at the Ritz-Carlton Naples, here. While food safety had a spot on the docket, Florida producers also focused on topics like enhanced selling techniques and using social media to improve business. "The times they are a-changing. You better keep up," Martha Roberts, special assistant to the

WASHINGTON -- The produce industry needs to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food campaign as the Obama administration continues to put fruits and vegetables "front and center" at the USDA, Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture, said Sept. 16 at a meeting of the United Fresh Produce Association, here. There's been a "sea change at USDA" on produce, and policymakers see a diet rich in fruit and vegetables as a powerful tool in the fight against the rising obesity epidemic, she said, calling it a "class myth" that low-income people cannot

WASHINGTON -- A day after the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference wrapped up, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced the award of $55 million in specialty block grants, a 10 percent increase over last year. "We are pleased to support diverse efforts to help specialty crop growers market their products in a global marketplace and encourage all Americans to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption," Ms. Merrigan said Sept. 17. "These grants are instrumental in helping specialty crop growers tackle the issues they are facing today." The

Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, markets potatoes not only in cartons and bags but also in an assortment of special retail packs. In the past, the company has offered "what we called 'Easy Steamer,'“ with 1.5 pounds of potatoes in a microwavable bag, said Kevin Stanger, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “This year we transitioned" from the “Easy Steamer” into a new one-pound microwavable product called “Microwave in Bag!” It is available in red and yellow varieties. According to the company’s web site, along with the name change, “our microwave-ready steam bag of

Imported berries seemingly are marching off ships and airplanes and right into consumers' shopping carts. Andy Gustavson, produce manager for Ben Lomond Market in Ben Lomond, CA, and produce supervisor for sister store Scotts Valley Market in nearby Scotts Valley, CA, told The Produce News Sept. 7 that he "keeps all varieties of berries in stock year round." Blueberries have "mushroomed into such a big element" no matter where they are from, Mr. Gustavson said. "Blueberries are so international, I don't worry about getting blueberries." Organic blueberries have become almost year round, he