WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association has announced that it will establish a new supply chain technology and logistics program to serve its members in all areas of supply chain management, such as transportation, cold chain quality control, information technologies and systems for traceability, facilities management, packing and packaging needs and related areas. Tom Stenzel, United president and chief executive officer, made the announcement Oct. 13 during a presentation to the board of directors of the International Foodservice Distributors Association on produce traceability

Shippers in Salinas, CA, are enjoying a very strong lettuce market, and all indications are that it will remain that way through the transitions from Salinas to the San Joaquin Valley and to Yuma, AZ, that will take place over the next six weeks. The market for a carton of cello-wrapped Iceberg lettuce hovered in the $16- $18 range during the week of Oct. 13. "We think the lettuce market should be good for the balance of the Salinas deal, all of the Huron deal, and at least to the mid-part of the Yuma deal," said Peter Romero, vice president of sales and marketing for Salyer American Fresh

For what it believes is the first time ever, Chiquita Brands International has launched a consumer rewards and loyalty program in the retail produce department. "From our analysis, this is the first time that a consumer awards program has been done for fresh produce," Bryan Brown, director of corporate communications for Cincinnati-based Chiquita, told The Produce News. "Certainly there are food companies that have consumer-relationship marketing programs out there in other product categories, but we have been able to find nothing like this in the produce department." Selected "Chiquita" and

WASHINGTON -- There were no takers for a bill that would have compensated the tomato industry for the damage caused during this summer's devastating Salmonella outbreak. In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning that tomatoes were the possible source of a Salmonella outbreak that had sickened more than 1,000 people. The FDA later switched its focus to hot peppers and told consumers to resume eating all tomatoes in the U.S. market. But the earlier announcement had devastated the tomato industry, running up losses totaling at least $100 million for Florida and

Now in its third season of operation, the innovative Internet-based tracking program TraceProduce.com is meeting with enthusiastic support by new clients who have come on board this year. Originally developed to provide traceability for its sister company, Fort Boise Produce in Parma, ID, TraceProduce.com has caught the eye of multiple packers in the potato and onion industries. As it expands into the produce packing and shipping arena, the program also continues to garner positive feedback from retail, wholesale and foodservice receivers nationwide as they are linked with instant and complete

Professionals in every corner of the produce industry are responding aggressively to the locally grown movement with increasing awareness of its effects on business today. No one needs a reminder about the power of consumer trends and how they can change the culture of a country. The fuel propelling the locally grown movement clears up any confusion about why it is strong and growing. Environmental awareness plays a substantial role and contributes to growing consumer demand of locally grown produce. In recent years, professionals commonly made statements like, "People think their food comes