Mills' quality-assurance manager tackles responsibility head on
As quality assurance manager for Salinas, CA-based Mills Family Farms' Wholeaves program, 25-year-old Kari Scheidhauer shoulders a lot of responsibility. "The ax falls on me" in the event of food-safety problems, Ms. Scheidhauer said. Still, she's grateful for the opportunity and feels that she's making a contribution to the program.
Central Valley enduring heat wave
FRESNO, CA -- An extended heat wave in the Central Valley, which began June 30 and continued with a string of triple-digit temperatures through most of the month, has affected various crops currently being harvested in the valley. The nature of the effect differs with the type of crop.
With tomatoes, for example, the immediate effect appears to have been minor, but the heat caused a bloom drop that could reduce yields in four to six weeks.
PMA adds to already-growing Foodservice Conference agenda
Putting together an annual event such as the Produce Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference in Monterey, CA, is akin to putting on a Super Bowl halftime show: Each successive show must attempt to outdo the previous one.
Unlike the Super Bowl, PMA's plans did not call for a provocative clothing mishap a la Janet Jackson. Still, more of what draws people to the show was planned for this year, said Lorna Christie, senior vice president of PMA.
Potato shippers meet to develop marketing plan
Growers and packers from the Washington & Oregon United Potato Growers Cooperative and the United of Idaho Potato Growers Cooperative met in Pasco, WA, recently to discuss the upcoming summer potato harvest and marketing period.
At the meeting, it was agreed that all three states must work together to market the crop in an orderly fashion and to assure the growers a fair market price for their potatoes.
The group met under the umbrella of the Capper Volstead Act, which allows growers and shippers to meet and discuss marketing, pricing and supply.
Chiquita makes management changes at Fresh Express
Cincinnati-based Chiquita Brands International Inc. announced July 14 that it has made a series of senior management changes, among them that its board of directors has elected Tanios Viviani, 44, as president of Fresh Express.
Chiquita acquired Fresh Express -- a U.S. market leader in value-added salads -- last month.
PA Preferred program launched in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA -- Despite a huge local marketing opportunity for Pennsylvania growers, only 1 percent of the produce sold by the Philadelphia Regional Produce Center is grown in the state.
In an effort to change that, Dennis Wolff, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, toured the Philadelphia market July 13 and held a subsequent press conference to discuss a new state program to promote Pennsylvania-grown produce. The event was moderated by Philadelphia market general manager Sonny DiCrecchio.
USDA to add fruits and vegetables to WIC
ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The U.S Department of Agriculture is planning to add fruits and vegetables to the Women, Infants & Children program, a move that could translate into $80 million for the produce industry once the program is in full swing, Steven Christensen, deputy administrator of the Special Nutrition Program of the USDA's Food & Nutrition Service, said at a July 13 industry meeting.
The public may get its first look at a revised WIC package as early as January, with a final rule expected in November.
Near-normal California grape season contrasts with 2004 conditions
As the 2005 fresh grape harvest gets underway in California's San Joaquin Valley, there are some striking differences between the current season and the 2004 season.
Most notable is that last year was one of the earliest harvests on record, district by district and variety by variety. The first harvest on many vineyards in 2004 came two to three weeks earlier than normal, and some growers said that it was the earliest start they remember.
FreshPoint acquires Connecticut produce distributor
FreshPoint Inc., a leading specialty produce distributor based in Houston, has signed a purchase agreement to acquire The Fowler & Huntting Co. Inc., a full-line fresh fruit and vegetable distributor headquartered in Hartford, CT.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by July 30.
Fowler & Huntting was founded in 1865 and supplies foodservice operations and retail customers throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, western Massachusetts, southern Vermont and eastern New York.
A statement from Mann Packing
Officials at Mann Packing Co. Inc. released the following statement July 18: SALINAS, CA -- The sudden passing of Joe Nucci, president and CEO of Mann Packing, has touched all of us deeply. It has also given us time to reflect on what a gifted leader and manager Joe was.