PMA president urges the industry to focus on consumers
SALINAS, CA " Bryan Silbermann, president of the Produce Marketing Association, told an audience made up primarily of members of the Salinas Valley produce industry on March 11 that they need to better understand that consumers are driving the marketplace.
What isn?t new, Mr. Silbermann said, is that buyers expect there to be quality. But it's the consumer who defines quality.
?The future won?t be "field to stomach," " Mr. Silbermann said. "It must be "stomach to field." "
Texas onion season gets underway
The first Texas onions hit the market the week of March 14-18, but experts aren?t predicting promotional volume until early April.
Acreage is up a bit this year, but the rainy growing season has reduced the size of the onions themselves, which should offset the increased acreage and result in a crop very similar in volume to 2004. Acreage in the 35 counties covered by the federal marketing order for Texas onions has been listed at 15,433 for 2005 " an increase of about 7 percent from last year?s figure of 14,436 acres.
United?s food safety and security conference to feature industry and government experts
The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association will offer an expert-led, comprehensive food-safety and security conference as part of the 2005 United Produce Show at FMI, April 30-May 3 in Chicago.
Taking a detailed look at the most important food-safety and security issues affecting the produce industry, the daylong conference will offer expert advice on foodservice and retail expectations; insider analyses of the latest government regulations; and new technologies to boost safety and protect the supply chain.
Task force working to harmonize North American trade
In an increasingly complex produce world, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, based in Ottawa, is leading a highly organized effort to simplify produce trade in North America.
In April 2004, CPMA created the North American Trade Task Force, which met in Ottawa Feb. 24. CPMA President Danny Dempster said that an all-star list of industry leaders is actively engaged in the group.
RETAIL VIEW: Retailers protest skyrocketing transaction fees
In what has to be labeled pure irony, the Food Marketing Institute, on behalf of the nation?s food retailers, is protesting skyrocketing electronic transaction fees which it claims retailers have no control over nor any say in determining the size of that charge levied by banks and credit card companies.
Albert's Organics promotes Zeller
Albert?s Organics announced that Mark Zeller has been promoted to sales manager of Albert?s Denver division. He recently joined the company as a project manager.
A 35-year resident of Denver, Mr. Zeller started his produce career as a clerk in 1976 and held a number of different produce positions, including produce and floral merchandiser and director of produce and floral for King Soopers, a Kroger company.
Perchlorate a water issue, not an ag issue, says PMA
NEWARK, DE " With the U.S. government and the agriculture industry grappling with the issue of acceptable perchlorate levels in agricultural products, the produce industry is keeping an eye on developments as they pertain to the products produced by the nation?s fruit and vegetable growers.
Consumer needs and trends focus of PMA retail conference
Building on the consumer-focused programs it developed throughout 2004, the Produce Marketing Association is continuing that theme into 2005 starting with its Retail Produce Solutions Conference in Monterey, CA. The conference will be held June 2-4; previously announced dates were June 4-6.
Proposed mango grade standards to be issued
It appears that there is close to universal agreement that inconsistent quality plagues mango exports to the United States and what is truly needed is some type of grade standard. Currently, there are no grade standards for mangos.
However, that situation appears to be headed toward resolution as a spokesman for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service?s Fruit & Vegetable Programs told The Produce News March 2 that a proposed grade standard for mangos would be published in the Federal Register within a matter of days.
Pride of New York launches redesigned web site
The Pride of New York program, the state?s branding program to promote and support agricultural products grown and food products processed within New York state, has launched a newly designed web site to better serve consumers, program members and anyone interested in New York state foods.
The Pride of New York Program?s redesigned web site, www.prideofny.com, now lists more than 1,200 members and offers easy-to-access, searchable information about members and their products. It also provides downloadable membership criteria and marketing information.