Cold spring weather and a shift in California varieties have combined to create a demand-exceeds-supply situation in the early stages of the plum market this year. The U.S. Federal State Market News Service reported June 14 that plum prices are about $25 per carton f.o.b., which is about 25 percent more than nectarines and 60 percent more than peaches. "The plum deal isn't like it used to be," said Gary Van Sickle, president of the California Tree Fruit Agreement. "We just don't have the early volume like we used to." He said that numbers tell the story, as only about 60,000 cartons of plums

BONITA SPRINGS, FL -- Water, water everywhere -- and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is mostly loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus, so much so that the agency has created a set of new runoff regulations for Florida's lakes, springs and rivers that could drown the state's farmers in a sea of red tape and increased costs. About 200 Florida citrus growers packed a panel discussion on the new EPA numeric nutrient criteria at the Florida citrus industry annual conference June 10 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, here. Growers are up in arms because the new EPA

BONITA SPRINGS, FL -- Despite golf and fishing tournaments and a handful of family events, the 2010 Florida citrus industry annual conference held June 9- 11 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, here, was mostly work. A crossroad of crises cast a pall over the annual proceedings. With worries about labor, shrinking research and advertising budgets, declining revenues, governmental indifference, costly freezes, stringent new water regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the sudden appearance of citrus black spot disease last month and the ever-present and pernicious

Bananas sourced in Central America will be in short supply at least until the end of June. Bil Goldfield, communications manager for Dole Fresh Fruit Co. in Westlake Village, CA, on June 8 told The Produce News, "In the wake of recent natural events in Latin America, including volcano eruptions in Guatemala and Ecuador and Tropical Storm Agatha, overall banana volumes will be reduced and forecast to be tight through the remainder of June." Freakish events simultaneously hit Guatemala in late May. The Pacaya volcano, which is 15 miles from Guatemala City, erupted on May 27-28. Several people

With a history of moving into a new season with zest and verve, 2010 is no exception for Zespri. Projecting beyond the retail trade's traditional tactics of ads and demos, the kiwifruit marketer has chosen to partner with retailers on promotions that engage consumers and direct maximum impact to the point of sale. Zespri also works with wholesalers across the country to reach independent retailers and produce stores, which are important outlets for its kiwifruit. This year, Zespri is planning roadshow programs and will deploy mobile merchandising teams during the summer season in Milwaukee

Bob Moore, chairman and chief executive officer of Intelligent Global Pooling Systems, based in Orlando, FL, was named by Ernst & Young as Florida's Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging Industries category. A veteran of the pallet industry, Mr. Moore founded iGPS in 2006 in Orlando with a goal to create the world's first pallet rental service providing shippers and receivers with all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags. In just four years, iGPS has made an impact on the supply chain and now counts among its customers many of the world's more respected and environmentally responsible