The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales, AZ, which represents over 100 U.S. member companies involved in growing, packing, sales and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Mexico, is continuing its "very popular promotion outreach to retailers" this year, said Veronica Kraushaar, owner of Viva Marketing, which represents the association in some of its promotional activities. The retail outreach consists of "incentives to promote 'Fresh from Mexico,'" she said. "We have seen a tremendous amount of interest the past three years we have been doing this." Since the

Banana prices are rising as farms in Central America and Ecuador have suffered severe weather, which has reduced supplies below demand levels. Brian Kocher, president of Chiquita Brands North America, alerted Chiquita customers in a Feb. 22 letter that the Cincinnati-based marketer would invoke the force majeure clause in its contracts, and banana prices would rise $2 per box for pickups, effective March 2. Chiquita said in a Feb. 26 press release, "As widely reported, a series of dramatic adverse weather conditions throughout Central America, as well as prolonged rainfall and major flooding

Celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse will host a new television series "Emeril Green" on Planet Green, Discovery Communications' new 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network that will reach more than 50 million U.S. homes. Planet Green network is set to launch June 4 with a full slate of original series and specials premiering throughout the summer. The "Emeril Green" series is slated for a July launch and will be shot exclusively in a Whole Foods store in Fairfax, VA. A pilot episode was shot during the first week of March, and the show will air at 8 p.m. five days a week. Mr. Lagasse will phase out

In 2007, The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, invested in new packaging equipment to facilitate two-, three-, five- and 10-pound consumer packs of the famed Texas sweet onion. "But we ended up shipping very few bags last year," said Don Ed Holmes, president of the Rio Grande Valley growing, packing and shipping operation. It wasn't lack of popularity that doomed sales of the bagged onions last year but rather a very nice problem to have. "Prices were just too high," he said. "At the kind of prices consumers were paying, most of them just wanted to buy one or two onions. A three-pound bag would have

It is highly unlikely that 2008 will bring a change in the U.S. Department of Agriculture marketing order that would regulate what is essentially a cutoff date for some varieties of Chilean grapes. Currently, Chilean grapes are allowed to enter the United States until April 20 before undergoing special inspections to meet regulations set forth by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. A proposal to change the existing marketing order would require specified varieties of Chilean grapes arriving in the United States after April 1 to be inspected before being shipped from U.S. ports. In those

A shakeup has occurred at Spreckels, CA-based Tanimura & Antle Inc. According to published reports, President Ken Silveira, Vice President Of Sales & Marketing Rick Bravo and Vice President Of Crop Management Rick Russo all are no longer with the company. In addition, it has been reported that Bob Antle, a part owner of T&A, has stepped in as sales manager. The report also said that John Killeen, vice president of marketing and business development, and Steve Koran, director of western sales, still are with the company. Chief Executive Officer Rick Antle spoke with The Produce News Monday