The strawberry industry was among the very early segments of the produce industry to embrace the use of clear plastic clamshells for retail consumer packs. The preponderance of fresh strawberries now goes to market in clamshells. They are popular for many reasons: they display the product well, they protect it, they extend shelf life and reduce shrink, and they reduce labor costs at store level. But there are downsides, one being the amount of non-biodegradable plastic waste generated by their use. There is, however, an environmentally friendly alternative: clear clamshells made from a

San Juan Bautista, CA-based Earthbound Farm has agreed to acquire San Juan Bautista neighbor Pride of San Juan's manufacturing operations in an effort to expand its reach in the foodservice market with specialty salads, herbs and edible flowers. Pride of San Juan will retain its farming operations and will supply Earthbound Farm with volume to fulfill orders for the Pride of San Juan labels. Effective April 3, Earthbound Farm will assume responsibility for managing PSJ's manufacturing and marketing operations. The transition to the new operation coincides with the resumption of full operations

Cases of Melissa's Great Book of Produce (John Wiley & Sons) began hitting bookstores in early March, but it is also being introduced in a place where not many books about food generally appear: in the produce departments of grocery stores across the country. Subtitled Everything You Need to Know About Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, the book is the result of a collaboration by Cathy Thomas, who is shown as the book's author; Sharon and Joe Hernandez, owners of Melissa's; their daughter, Melissa, who is also the company's namesake; corporate chef Ida Rodriguez; and Robert Schueller, director of

CHICAGO -- Larger-than-life graphics of Newman's Own Organics hit the streets of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin this month. The graphics cover the entire body of delivery trucks belonging to Goodness Greeness, a leading distributor of organic produce in the Midwest, and are the result of a distribution partnership between Goodness Greeness and Newman's Own Organics. The development marks the first use of Newman's Own Organics graphics on a vehicle. Bob Scaman, president and chief executive officer of Chicago-based Goodness Greeness, designed the ad campaign to highlight the

In late February, a national retail chain ran a mango ad with the National Mango Promotion Board logo. That was the first fruit of the labors of the board's merchandising staff. Veronica Kraushaar of VMS LLC in Scottsdale, AZ, which provides merchandising services for the board, said that five regional merchandisers have been blanketing their territories since the first of the year giving anyone who will listen a crash course in mangos. While many in the U.S. industry are well versed on what is called the "world's favorite fruit," Ms. Kraushaar said that research shows there is also quite a

As of early February, it was looking as though the California asparagus season might get underway earlier than ever due to mild winter weather. But wet and exceptionally cool weather from late February through early March has delayed the crop, making it later than usual rather than earlier. It may also be lighter than normal in volume throughout the season (which typically runs through May), according to some sources. The California Asparagus Commission, however, projects a total volume for the season of 75 million to 80 million pounds, which would be very similar to last year, according to