Return to Healthy Eating display contest helps reverse flawed low-carb fad
While The Produce News and the Idaho Potato Commission, which co-sponsored a "Return to Healthy Eating? display contest that ran from October through December 2004, can?t take all the credit, the joint effort was undoubtedly one contributing factor in bringing many Americans back to their senses with regard to some of the scientifically flawed premises of low-carbohydrate fad diets.
Pink Lady America seeks to stanch trademark infringement
Movement of the popular "Pink Lady? brand apple continues at a brisk pace, according to Pink Lady America Marketing Director Alan Taylor, with shipments early in 2005 up more than 600 percent over the 2002-03 year that saw a devastating crop freeze.
Demand was high during the week of Christmas 2004, and by Jan. 3, a to-date total saw 288 cars compared to 172 cars of Pink Lady apples shipped from the Yakima and Wenatchee districts of Washington state.
California growers don't anticipate vegetable supply gap
If prognostications from growers on California?s Central Coast are correct, there won?t be a vegetable supply gap a few months from now despite concerns that heavy rains delayed some plantings.
In speaking with The Produce News on Feb. 8, Tom Nunes Jr., vice president of sales for Salinas, CA-based The Nunes Co. Inc., said that, for example, crops planted three weeks apart could harvest two days apart.
Fresh From D'Vine feeds Silicon Valley corporations
Frank Devine is all about high-tech and biotech. Though he won?t be found in an office cubicle, denizens of Silicon Valley's corporate culture may have him to thank the next time they bite into a piece of fresh produce at work on their lunch hour.
New facility a base for Cleveland Growers' expanded services
A new, state-of-the-art, 100,000-square-foot warehouse is great for operations. But Cleveland Growers Marketing Co. in Cleveland has used such a facility to launch a wide array of customer services to expand its business.
Ed Tousel, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cleveland Growers, said that his company hired Ken Carnevale as director of business development to institute the firm?s expanded services.
NEPC to feature exciting guests
BURLINGTON, MA "- The New England Produce Council will hold its fifth annual Produce & Floral Expo on April 6 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston.
The NEPC expo is the region?s premier event for executives and buyers in the produce industry to network and see the latest in produce and floral products. Attendance at this year?s expo is expected to be close to 1,000, with 250 booths.
Potato Passion drives CPAC activities
Diet trends aside, love has not been lost for potatoes. That fact stood out among key conclusions reached during recipe contests and focus groups recently sponsored by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, prompting CPAC Executive Director Chris Voigt to suggest, "Perhaps instead of "Potato Lovers Month? we should call February "Potato Passion Month." " Mr. Voigt said that in consumer focus groups sponsored in summer 2004 by CPAC, comments were "vociferous against trendy regimens that did not consider the role potatoes play in a healthy diet."
Referendum planned to include greenhouse tomatoes in California Tomato Commission
The California Tomato Commission currently governs all field-grown tomato production in California, whether mature green or vine-ripe, but does not have oversight over hydroponic greenhouse-grown tomatoes. That appears about to change.
?The commission is going to referendum in the nest few months? to determine whether its scope will be expanded to include the greenhouse tomato industry in California, said Ed Beckman, president of the Fresno-based commission.
California asparagus growers "cautiously optimistic?
While 2004 was considered a "salvageable? year for California asparagus growers, it appears that 2005 needs to match or better that result to keep some growers from throwing in the towel on the crop. But favorable weather conditions " including sufficient rain and ample chill hours " and an aggressive promotion program have growers cautiously optimistic about the 2005 season.
President Bush elevates immigration reform debate during State of the Union
WASHINGTON " Grower-based organizations are hoping that President Bush?s call for action on immigration reform during the State of the Union address will help Congress pass long-awaited reforms for the agriculture guest worker program.
?Those of us in agriculture who have been pleading for immigration reform are heartened by the president?s courageous call to action and we are optimistic that a solution can be found to solve the immigration crisis," said Tom Nassif, president of Western Growers Association in Irvine, CA.