Growers of California stone fruit, including white-flesh peaches and nectarines, have suffered hard times in recent years as production costs continue to rise and market prices have stagnated or declined. The fallout has been significant, as several major growers, shippers and packers, some of which have been in business for generations, have downsized, restructured, sold off assets, or simply closed their doors. There is a widespread consensus in the stone fruit industry that there will be still more fallout in the weeks and months ahead. As of this writing, there are idled packinghouses and

Flavian Basciani, a mushroom industry pioneer who was a founder of Basciani Mushroom Farms in Avondale, PA, died May 11 at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE. He was 82 years old and had resided in Kennett Square, PA, which is adjacent to Avondale. Mr. Basciani served in the U.S. military in Italy during World War II before returning home to start Basciani Mushroom Farms with his brothers Emidio Basciani Jr. and Mario (Chuff) Basciani, according to Michael Basciani, vice president of the firm, who is Mario Basciani's son. The Basciani brothers' father, Emidio Basciani Sr., started growing

Three research studies released in recent weeks by the Mushroom Council indicate means by which retailers can increase sales and profits. On the sales side, according to Informational Resources Inc., fresh mushroom sales increased in both dollars (4.5 percent) and pounds (1.5 percent) over last year. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2009, white mushroom sales grew in both dollars and pounds, brown mushrooms experienced strong growth in both dollars and pounds by 10 percent or more in the month of February, and specialty mushrooms grew in sales by more than 3 percent in the first quarter

REEDLEY, CA -- A net decrease in producing acreage resulting largely from pullouts exceeding replacement plantings is a major factor in a smaller crop of California peaches and nectarines, including both traditional yellow-flesh varieties and the Summerwhite or white-flesh varieties this year. The California Tree Fruit Agreement's official estimate for Summerwhite peaches is 5.4 million packages, down from 6.2 million packages last year, a decline of about 11 percent. The nectarine estimate for 2009 is 4.7 million packages, down from 5.4 million packages last year, a decline of about 13

Martin Eubanks, senior commodity merchandiser for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture in Columbia, SC, told The Produce News that hail this season delayed peach movement by a few days. "We're getting underway now with the early side of our deal," Mr. Eubanks said May 13. "Peaches will be shipped throughout May into early June. We will have ample volumes to handle normal sales, but growers will likely be somewhat limited with supplies for overly heavy promotions in the early part of the movement. Things are looking real good for June, however, with much better volumes and ample

An attorney familiar with PACA law believes that a recent decision by a New York court allows preferential payments of PACA Trust creditors and should cause sellers to file suit early and often when the potential for a bad debt arises. However, several other attorneys, who are also experts in PACA law, disagree with the significance of the recent decision and believe there has been no change in case law, and buyers and sellers need to do nothing differently. Michael Keaton of Keaton & Associates in Palatine, IL, believes that the just- released decision in the H.C. Schmieding Produce Co. v