The year 2009 has been "a historic year in the garlic industry" with a demand-exceeds-supply situation that has pushed prices for both domestic and imported product to higher levels than anyone has seen in a long time, according to Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce, a grower, importer and marketer of fresh garlic, ginger and specialty produce based in West Grove, PA. The price jump is largely a consequence of a 50-percent reduction in garlic plantings in China, a factor which has also given a boost to California's market share, Mr. Provost told The Produce News Dec. 17. "Heading into

ORLANDO, FL -- CHEP announced Dec. 22 the signing of a multi-year contract with Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., for pallet pooling services in support of the company's banana and melon divisions. Del Monte Fresh uses CHEP pallets to transport "Del Monte" brand bananas and melons from the company's facilities in Puerto Lim?n, Costa Rica, and Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, to supermarkets, mass market retailers, club stores, wholesalers and foodservice distributors across the United States and Canada, according to CHEP, a global leader in pallet and

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association will help promote the Canadian produce industry to the world by organizing the first Canadian pavilion at the 2010 Fruit Logistica trade show, the largest show in the produce industry, Feb. 3-5 in Berlin. The pavilion, a joint initiative of the CPMA, Messe Berlin GmbH, the venue and trade show's owner, and B-For International Exhibit Services, which represents Messe Berlin in North America, will also have exhibits from the British Columbia Blueberry Council, Jealous Fruits, Knight's Appleden Ltd., Norfolk Fruit Growers' Association, Ontario Apple

WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Research & Education Foundation will present a one-day post-show conference on produce sustainability April 23 at the Palazzo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The conference will immediately follow United 2010, the organization's conference and trade show, scheduled for April 19-23, also in Las Vegas. "The Global Conference on Produce Sustainability will bring together experts from all points in the supply chain to explore the opportunities afforded by sustainable produce industry practices," Tom Stenzel, Uniteds president and chief executive officer, said in a

SANTIAGO, CHILE -- Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Navel orange imports from Chile last year, that country's ample crop has helped to increase imports of all oranges by the United States 35 percent this season to date, according to USDA Market News in early November. Future shipments of Navels from Chile are expected to account for 25 percent of orange imports by the United States. Other countries that help make up the remainder of the import volume are Australia, South Africa, Spain, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. "This surge in Navel orange import volume during a down

PHILADELPHIA -- In the specialty produce business, certain exotic commodities -- figurative bricks in the road to success -- sometimes may not be huge-volume sellers. They may be so expensive that the distributor is unable to convert them to large-profit items. But such items give customers - - and customers' customers -- a big reason to keep buying from the supplier, according to John Vena. Toward the goal of introducing super-select new products, the week of Dec. 7 became a "Radicchio Festival" for Mr. Vena's specialty produce house, John Vena Inc. The firm dedicated the week to introducing