Columbia Marketing International, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, will see a surge in its organic pear volume this season. "We have a fairly prominent grower that came to CMI last year," said Vice President of Marketing Bob Mast. He told The Produce News the company's volume will more than triple for the 2010-11 season for organic Anjou, Bosc and Bartlett. “That’s pretty significant,” he added. CMI grows organic and conventional pears in the Wenatchee Valley and has packing operations in Monitor, WA. “We’ve got a pretty good crop coming,” Mr. Mast stated. Weather conditions during the spring

WASHINGTON -- Capitalizing on the popularity of its 2010 convention mobile applications, the United Fresh Produce Association has launched a new, feature-rich version in preparation for its annual Washington Public Policy Conference later this month. "The app allows United Fresh members to stay informed with United and industry news while on the go," Ray Gilmer, United's vice president of communications, said in a Sept. 1 press release. "In today's busy and demanding business environment, the United Fresh mobile app brings added convenience and value to our members, and helps them stay

The Colorado state engineer's office of the Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with its rulemaking procedure to establish rules to regulate water consumption in the San Luis Valley. "We're getting toward the end of the process," said Craig Cotten, division engineer for Water Division 3. "The state engineer hopes to be finished by the end of the year and have the rules submitted to Division 3 Water Court." The proposed rules are being developed by a 55-member advisory committee representing water users in the valley. Because the committee represents such a broad cross section of

Produce industry veteran Eugene Loffredo, 88, died Aug. 15 in Des Moines, IA, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. In 1940, Mr. Loffredo went to work in Des Moines for his father at his family’s produce business, Loffredo Gardens. Two years later, he joined the U.S. First Marine Division, serving on the front lines of the South Pacific in World War II from 1942 to 1945 or '46, his son, Mike Loffredo, told The Produce News. According to The Des Moines Register, Mr. Loffredo was buried Aug. 19 at Des Moines’ Glendale Cemetery. Born June 9, 1922, to Anthony and Clara (Bellizzi) Loffredo in

Many different factors affected the supply and demand of trucks in the fresh produce business this year, but overall the rates remained fairly strong in the face of rising costs. Speaking with The Produce News Thursday, Aug. 19, Cary Crum, president of Sierra Agricultural Transportation Inc. in Visalia, CA, said that the rate structure from California to the Northeast was in the $6,500 to $8,500 range. "I don't see any real changes in the next 30 to 60 days," he said. “Maybe when we get into October there will be less demand, but I’m not sure.” Mr. Crum said that the rates have remained fairly

When a company has been involved in farming for more than 150 years, it's safe to say that the decades of experience bring expertise and passion that can be matched by few others. Such is the case at Smith’s Farm, a Presque Isle, ME-based broccoli and potato grower-shipper that traces its farming roots back to 1859. With the fifth and sixth generations of the Smith family now running the business, Smith’s Farm brings an ideal mix of time-tested experience and forward- thinking enthusiasm to producing its crops. Broccoli is the primary commodity grown at the Maine operation of Smith’s Farm (the