ANAHEIM, CA -- The Canadian Produce Marketing Association's overhaul of its 5 to 10 a Day program and its new Passion for Produce mentoring program are among the new initiatives on which the association is working to benefit the produce industry. The new initiatives were detailed to The Produce News at an Oct. 4 meeting, here, during the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit International Convention and Exhibition by CPMA President Dan Dempster, Adrian Abbott, its chairman, and Jane Proctor, its vice president of policy and issue management, as well as during an Oct. 14 interview with

The aftermath of last week's Japanese typhoon gained strength as it traveled eastward over the Pacific Ocean and slammed into California's Central Coast Tuesday, Oct. 13. A storm of this magnitude typically arrives mid-winter when there are no local crops being harvested. Heavy winds and rain started early Oct. 13 and continued all day. Rain totals include Watsonville with 4.54 inches, Monterey with 2.91 inches and Salinas with 1.49 inches. The watershed areas in southern Monterey County received an incredible 16.81 inches. Wind gusts were as high as 50 mph. There were 30,000 power outages on

WASHINGTON -- A group of some 50 produce industry leaders from every stage of the supply chain have come together to begin work on a major initiative to drive harmonization of standards and audits for Good Agricultural Practices. The group was convened following widespread interest in harmonization voiced by industry leaders at the Global Conference on Produce Food Safety Standards, held in conjunction with the United Fresh Produce Association convention in April. The Produce GAP Harmonization Initiative is led by a steering committee chaired by Brian Kocher, president of Chiquita Brands North

ANAHEIM, CA -- Produce and floral suppliers from across the United States and around the world donated an estimated 243,000 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers Oct. 14 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. The donation -- made by companies exhibiting at the Produce Marketing Association's 60th anniversary Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition at the Anaheim Convention Center -- is the largest fresh produce donation received to date by the food bank. The food and flowers were collected from the convention center Oct. 5 by more than 45 local food bank

ANAHEIM, CA -- Ecuador's mango industry has dropped acreage and increased production in the last six years. Such efficiency is key to the industry, according to Bernardo Malo, president of the Guayaquil-based Mango Ecuador Foundation. In 2003, Ecuadorian growers utilized 20,000 acres of mangos; by 2009 that number had dropped to about 13,800 acres, according to Mr. Malo. Part of the decline is because "mangos had not been what growers thought they would be," Mr. Malo said. Ecuador faces an oversupply situation when competing with Brazil and Peru in international markets. Of the three countries

Uesugi Farms Inc., a Gilroy, CA-based grower-packer-shipper of Bell peppers, chili peppers, Napa cabbage, bok choy, strawberries and pumpkins, has added eggplant and winter Napa cabbage to its list of commodities. Pete Aiello, general manager of Uesugi Farms, told The Produce News Oct. 7 that the firm later this month will start to harvest two varieties of eggplants, Italian and Japanese, which it is growing on approximately six acres in California's Coachella Valley. He said that it will also offer winter Napa and bok choy, which will be grown on 50 acres in Holtville, CA, from December to