Although the percentage of the California stone fruit crop shipped overseas last year was down from historic averages, as was the crop itself, export markets remain an important destination for California stone fruit in general, and in particular for white-flesh peaches and nectarines. "Export markets continue to be critical for California peach, plum and nectarine growers, as the industry historically [exports] around 25 percent of the crop," according to Gordon Smith, director of marketing for the California Tree Fruit Agreement in Reedley, CA. "That percentage declined to 19 percent in 2009

After 31 years farming, Tommy Smith, chairman of the Carolina Blueberry Association in Garland, NC, is a little surprised to find his industry has become an overnight sensation. With blueberries showing category growth across the spectrum and consumption rising annually, what three decades ago was a niche product has in the last few years become a rising-star commodity. "We've been fairly well pleased that blueberry consumption is increasing each year - naturally, I as a grower would like to see it increase a lot faster - but it is something that people are picking up," Mr. Smith told The

VANCOUVER, BC — Canadian retailer Sobeys Inc. announced May 12 its further entry into the discount arena with the launching of eight discount supermarkets under the "FreshCo." banner in Ontario. Each of the stores was converted from the "Price Chopper" banner, which is another Sobeys' format. The company claims to have “significantly retooled, refreshed and redefined discount food retailing” with this new offering. In a press conference via telephone with the media, Sobeys President and Chief Executive Officer Bill McEwan explained that the FreshCo. format represents new thinking and is vastly

A shortage of supply has created an asparagus market that is about as hot as anyone can remember — and there is no expectation that it will change any time soon. While the prices might not continue to top $50 for a 28-pound box as they were doing the third week of May, industry experts are saying it could be well into summer before supply and demand get back in harmony. Weather in virtually all parts of the country is the main factor, as it has reduced the spring crops from the heavy-producing states of Washington and California, and also delayed production in the lighter-volume regions

PHILADELPHIA — Two-and-a-half is a number on the mind of every distributor on the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market. That is the factor by which the distributors' rent will increase when they move later this year to the new Philadelphia market. Heightened overhead costs give Philadelphia’s receivers one choice: build sales volume. John Vena Jr., president of John Vena Inc., said that success at the new market strictly hinges on increasing sales. "In order to satisfy our overhead requirements, we need to increase our top line by 30 [percent] or 40 percent. That may not be enough, so we need

Paul Villa, owner and president of Great West Produce Inc. in City of Commerce, CA, along with a group of eight other prominent members of the Los Angeles-area business community, had an opportunity to spend a day aboard a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, the USS Albuquerque, at sea off the coast of San Diego. It is the second time in two years that Mr. Villa has been aboard a U.S. Navy vessel at sea as part of the Navy's Distinguished Visitor Program. On the previous occasion, in 2008, the vessel was an aircraft carrier with a 5,000- member crew, the vastness of which contrasted dramatically with