Earl Halliday Nelson of Oneonta Trading was 69
Earl Halliday Nelson, a longtime member of the Oneonta Trading Corp. team, died Jan. 27 in Wenatchee, WA, of congestive heart failure. He was 69.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Feb. 5, at St. Luke?s Episcopal Church in Wenatchee.
Mr. Nelson is survived by his wife, Connie; daughter Page Swan and son-in-law Kelly; son Blake and daughter-in-law Amy; daughter Jill Mowell and son-in-law David; his brother, Russell Nelson; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
EU proposes substantial increase in banana tariff
At a Jan. 31 World Trade Organization meeting in Brussels, the European Union formally proposed a banana import tariff adjustment that would raise the levy to 230 euro ($300) per ton as of Jan. 1, 2006.
EU leaders said that this will balance the demands of large-scale growers in Latin America and interests of traditional suppliers in Africa and the Caribbean.
Washington growers bring taste of new apples to Texas and South Carolina
Shoppers at select grocery stores in Greenville, SC, Houston and San Antonio, TX, got a treat the second weekend in January when a group of Washington apple growers brought a taste of their own Enza Pacific Rose and Jazz apples to town.
The crisp, sweet Pacific Rose and the tart-sweet Jazz were met with such enthusiasm during the grower sampling appearances that many stores sold out before the end of the weekend, according to David Nelley, pipfruit category director for the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group.
Ciruli Bros. taps Eric Viramontes as agricultural manager
Ciruli Bros., based in Nogales, AZ, announced the addition of Eric Viramontes as agricultural manager.
Mr. Viramontes will oversee the company?s grower relations and procurement functions. He will be responsible for carrying out decisions relating to managed field operations, and will oversee various row crops, coordinating between growing, harvesting and marketing.
Al Gracio of Fresh Network was 61
Albert (Al) Gracio, who worked as a bulk-buying specialist, consolidation dock manager and quality assurance manager for Fresh Network in Salinas, CA, died Jan. 26. He was 61.
Nogales celebrates arrival of Mexican avocados
Due to changes in regulations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the first loads of Mexican avocados are preparing to cross the border through Nogales, AZ.
On Nov. 30, the USDA announced the expansion of the Mexican avocado program, allowing avocados from approved municipalities in the state of Michoacan into the United States during all 12 months and into all states except California, Hawaii and Florida.
The new regulations became effective Jan. 31.
Queen to lead Snappy Apples sales
TPG Enterprises in Othello, WA, has hired Loren Queen as sales and marketing manager for its fresh-cut apple line, Snappy Apples, and as project manager of its tart cherry juice line, Tart is Smart.
Mr. Queen has 10 years of experience in the fresh-cut produce industry, most recently as director of marketing for the International Fresh-cut Produce Association.
Ivan Taylor, president of TPG, said in a statement, "We are excited to have Loren join our team. We know his level of commitment will take us to the next level."
Premium Fresh adds key staff members
Four months after its inception, Premium Fresh Farms LLC in Salinas, CA, has announced the appointment of Cynthia Kerr as director of marketing and Craig Long as national accounts manager.
The pair represents the first sales and marketing additions for Premium Fresh Farms LLC, a newly formed processing company that purchased the assets of Coronet Foods? Western division in September.
Premium Fresh Farms specializes in processed salad and vegetable items for the foodservice industry.
National Apple Month announces 2004 retail display contest winners
VIENNA, VA " The U. S. Apple Association?s National Apple Month program has announced the winners of its fall 2004 NAM retail and military display contests, bringing the apple industry's fall generic apple promotion to a close.
Mountaineer Amy Gates climbing her way to the top
Since her youth, Amy Gates, 28, has made a habit of quickly climbing through the ranks at the companies for which she works. At 15 years old, Ms. Gates "took photographs for a white-water rafting company." By 17, the company owner, who did not realize her young age, promoted her to office manager. ?They paid me really well, and it was seasonal, which worked out really well because I was in college? at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA, earning her degree in agriculture business with a concentration in marketing.