Harris Moran unfolds Origami cantaloupe
Harris Moran, a worldwide leader in vegetable seeds, and a member of the HM.Clause Business Unit inside the Limagrain vegetable seed division, today announced the increased availability of Origami – the latest cantaloupe in a long line of varietal successes from a company known for its quality, reliability,.....

Michigan crops in "early stages of stink bug invasion"
A tiny insect could cause big problems for Michigan’s fruit and vegetable crops, farmers and experts say.The potential for the brown marmorated stink bug’s increased presence in Michigan concerns some people because there are no state or federal eradication programs. The invasive Asian bug was found last.....

GMOs threaten US-EU trade agreement
Many Europeans are distrustful of US agricultural practices and what they see as an over reliance on GMOs. Now the differences between the US and Europe are threatening to become an issue in discussion aimed at removing trade barriers between the two.Europeans worry that increased trade access would make it.....

Vermont could be first State to label GMO food
Vermont seemed more likely than ever to become the first US State to mandate the labeling of genetically modified food (GMO) after a bill passed the state house.Similar bills seeking to provide consumers with labels at the grocery store that highlight what products contain GMOs have recently failed. In.....

Novelties and knowledge at United Fresh 2013
With a spectacular opening at the USS Midway, United Fresh welcomed thousands of fresh produce industry leaders to San Diego last week. The trade show floor on Wednesday was packed. On Thursday it was a bit slower, but the exhibitors overall were very pleased. Click here for the photo reportAttendees at the.....

Michigan diversifies in case of future bad seasons
Like so many Michigan fruit growers this week, Rodney Winkel is sweating it. He’s up before the sun, checking his apple blossoms, organizing migrant workers to pick his asparagus — and feeling the weight of owning a farm.Last year was the worst growing season in more than a half-century. It forced many.....

Vilsack promises to grow US organic industry
At its recent policy conference in Washington, D.C., the Organic Trade Association (OTA) heard from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about the future of organic farming.Vilsack told OTA members that he views organic as “its own separate commodity,” and he is committed to treating it that way. He wants to.....

Canada: Walmart suffers from "Target effect"
Even Walmart Canada may not be not immune to what retail watchers are calling "the Target effect."Same-store sales, operating income and foot traffic suffered at the country's biggest mass merchant during Target's first quarter in Canada, amid a period of dampened consumer spending and unusually cold.....

Titan
New bigger blueberry variety released
Titan, a newly released University of Georgia blueberry variety, produces much larger berries than traditional blueberry plants. Titan, a newly released University of Georgia blueberry variety, produces much larger berries than traditional blueberry plants. A Titan blueberry plant can produce berries.....

US: Publix wins food safety award
Publix Super Markets was selected to receive the 2013 Black Pearl Award from the International Association for Food Protection.The award, sponsored by Wilbur Feagan and F & H Food Equipment Co., is given annually to one company for its efforts in advancing food safety and quality through consumer.....

GMO ‘botox apples’ that do not bruise or brown could soon be in stores
The genetically modified apples, produced by Canadian company Okanagan Specialty Fruits, have been under review by US regulatory agencies since 2010. If approved, they would become the second GMO fruit to be allowed in the country. The new, genetically modified apples do not bruise or brown. Americans may.....

Georgia peaches on shelves a little late this year
Friday marked the first day of fresh Georgia peaches hitting the shelves at Lane Southern Orchard.These peaches are a little late this year because of the weather in Central Georgia earlier this year."We had weather conditions that we thought might be non-conducive to growing good peaches," said Duke Lane,.....

California cherries to peak early
The California cherry harvest is off to a good start and is heavy early, which bodes well for Washington, sources say.Harvest began April 26 near Bakersfield and has spread North to Fresno, Lodi and Stockton. An 8 million-box crop is anticipated and 1.6 million boxes had been shipped as of May 14, said Chris.....

Canadian potato grower/packer earns CEO of the year
First, winning Ernst & Young (www.ey.com/CA/en/Home) Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, Atlantic winner, in the Business-to-consumer products and services category, John Griffin, CEO and President of W.P. Griffin Inc. was named as one of the Top 50 CEO's in Atlantic Canada for 2013, by the Atlantic Business.....

Michigan sweet cherries in good shape
Michigan’s sweet cherry crop is looking good for this year after surviving prolonged cold weather this Spring, according to cherry growers and packers.West Michigan’s sweet cherry trees – which blossom earlier than sour cherries or apples – had excellent weather during blossom, said Don Armock, president of.....

Positive season expected
Canadian cherries escape cold weather damage
The degree days of 2013 have closely matched that of the 2007 growing season to date. It is expected to be a closer to 'normal' year with clearly defined spacing between the different growing regions. This will begin with a likely early start in the South Okanagan, helping to avoid the delays that have.....

BJ’s Wholesale Club Selects FoodLink® to purchase fresh produce
FoodLink®, the fresh food commerce and traceability platform, today announced that BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. is leveraging FoodLink’s buying platform toassist in the sourcing and purchasing of fresh produce across BJ’s 15-state chain.“Produce is an increasingly important category for our club members, and we.....

Strawberries tested for New Mexico
Late freezes in Northern New Mexico regularly impact the region’s fruit tree crops. In 2011, the state’s peach crop was lost to a late freeze. Growers are determining what impact the hard mid-April frost will have on this year’s crop.To provide research-based recommendations to fruit growers, New Mexico.....

Mexico: Hongos Leben wants to return to export
The Mexican company Hongos Leben produces fungi and mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) since 1975, this in addition to varieties like shiitake, Portobello and Crimini. The products carry major brands in Mexico City, the metropolitan area and other regions of the country.Until 2005, Hongos Leben exported to the.....

Matrix features Triton High-Speed Bagging Machine at United Fresh
Matrix Packaging Machinery, powered by Pro Mach, will showcase at United Fresh, May 14-16 at the San Diego Convention Center, the Triton, a vertical form-fill-seal machine optimized for the fresh produce packaging industry. The Triton automated bagging machine, which comes in two models, can help fresh.....

USDA providing new satellite-based vegetation assessment
The USDA recently announced that it was launching a new state-of-the-art, satellite-based crop condition vegetation assessment and monitoring service named “VegScape.”Much like the popular “CropScape” geospatial product, VegScape delivers interactive vegetation indices so that web users can explore, visualize,.....

More than $10,000 in Prizes
US: Third annual Mango Mania Display Contest commences in July
The National Mango Board (NMB) is calling on mango shippers for their help to encourage small retailers to participate in their third annual Mango Mania Display Contest throughout the month of July. The contest is designed specifically for individual stores or small chains with up to 50 stores to help boost.....

United Fresh 2013 attendees honor best new products
Attendees to the United Fresh Produce Association’s annual convention and expo in San Diego cast their votes Wednesday and recognized this year’s New Product Awards in five categories. More than 30 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations competed in the categories of Best New Food Safety Solution, Best New.....

For peach research
US: David Byrne receives national 2013 Carroll R. Miller Award
Dr. David Byrne, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist in College Station, has received the Carroll R. Miller Award from the National Peach Council.The award was established in memory of Miller of Martinsburg, W.V., a founding member and first president of the peach council, according to the group’s.....

Changes to Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program concern industry
Specialty crops continue strong momentum in Farm Bill
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of more than 120 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, commends House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, Ranking Member Collin Peterson and committee members for.....

Northwest cherries:
Smaller harvest, higher quality fruit
Based on bloom and acreage data reported by the Northwest Cherry Grower Association's volunteer team of fieldmen, growers and industry professionals from all 5 states, the estimated crop curve is initially projected to follow a similar curve as that displayed here. Early fruit, though lighter in estimated.....

PortMiami dredge project moves towards construction phase
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has announced that the Deep Dredge Project contract has been awarded to Great Lakes Dock and Dredge for the deepening of PortMiami’s channel to minus 50/52 feet. Dredging is anticipated to begin in August 2013 and be completed in time for the opening of the.....

Michigan fruit less damage than feared
Michigan fruit tree growers who suffered devastating freeze losses one year ago seem to have sustained less serious damage from this week’s late frost.Growers took extraordinary steps ahead of Monday’s frost and freeze warnings, using helicopters, wind machines, orchard heaters and bonfires to keep the cold.....

California poised for record strawberry crop
Despite growers combating freezing temperatures earlier this year, the California strawberry crop is poised for record production, according to the California Strawberry Commission. “We’ve caught up and are well ahead of last year’s production. We’re shipping around 7 million trays a week out of California,.....

US: Bad year for potato cultivation, good for research
Although it's been a tough year for Florida potato growers, state University researchers say it has been a good year in which to conduct research. "This is a good year to test potatoes," said Doug Gergela, research coordinator at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Hastings.....

US raspberry consumption up 300%
Researchers with Ohio State University are in the midst of a multi-year project studying alternative planting methods to help growers increase the production of blackberries and raspberries Demand for the two fruits has exploded in recent years thanks to consumers who covet the tiny sweet fruits for their.....

US (VA): Slow start to strawberry season
Strawberry blooms are turning into berries a bit late this year, Virginia farmers say.After a cold winter and chilly Spring, most pick-your-own strawberry fields opened two or three weeks later than usual."They were really slow getting started. I mean, really slow," says Carolyn Lilley, owner of Lilley.....

Maxwell Chase Technologies:
New MCT25 double row tomato slicer doubles capacity
Maxwell Chase Technologies today announced the next generation of their patented MCT 25 Automated Tomato Slicer which doubles the production capacity of the previous model.The new MCT 25 Double Row Tomato Slicer occupies the same footprint of the previous model, while doubling the production capacity to over.....

Leafy vegetables could help against cataracts
A study suggests that certain antioxidants found in spinach and greens seem to protect against cataract.Around 20 million people in the USA suffer from cataract – a clouding of the eye lens that is linked to oxidative stress. This occurs with age as the lens is exposed to pollution and ultraviolet radiation......

New Technology promises to keep fruit fresh longer
Scientists have proposed the use of a new technology that promises to keep fruits, vegetables and cut flowers fresh for longer period, reducing the billions of dollars of loss incurred each year from wastage.Nicolas Keller, Marie-Noelle Ducamp, Didier Robert and Valerie Keller explain that fruits, vegetables.....

US: Food Lion increases sales on reopenings
Food Lion has made what it calls “significant investments” in 178 stores in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. To support these efforts, the Salisbury, N.C.-based grocer has also hired 800 employees.Part of Food Lion’s ongoing store rebranding initiative, the investments are based.....

Pregnant Kim Kardashian craves fruit and vegetables
Pregnant Kim Kardashian is craving fruit and vegetables such as carrots, celery and grapefruit as her July due date approaches.The 32-year-old reality TV star, is set welcome her first child in early July with her rapper boyfriend Kanye West and can't stop eating celery, carrots and grapefruit as the date.....

United Fresh introduces class 19 Produce Industry Leadership Program
The United Fresh Foundation is pleased to announce the 12 members of the 2013-2014 United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program. Presented through the Foundation’s Center for Leadership Excellence and sponsored by a generous grant from DuPont Crop Protection, this program was launched in 1995 and has.....

California season commences
Gourmet Trading Company features retail friendly pack sizes
California blueberry season is underway for North American distributor of Fresh Asparagus and Blueberries, Gourmet Trading Company, who has introduced 5oz, 10oz and 16oz retail friendly pack sizes of its SuperbluesTM the super sized and crunchy blueberries from its own California blueberry farm.“We found.....

Stellar Distributing to debut Tiger fig
The start of this year's fig season in California will see Madera-based Stellar Distributing bring sizable volumes of their Tiger fig to the market. Stellar Distributing will be the exclusive distributor of the fig this season.“The Tiger fig is a yellow fig with green stripes on it, and it has nice.....

Baja California Sur
Mexico: 2000 acres of citrus to be fumigated against the HLB
The technical citrus committee met upon the arrival of the resources for the HLB control campaign program. The meeting was attended by SAGARPA's federal delegate for the BCS, the engineer Trinidad Cota Acosta; the entity's Plant Health Committee, the Fundacion Produce, INIFAP, Eco Citricos, Autonomous.....

US (WI): Late Spring delays vegetables
A.J. Bussan. Professor of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin Madison, has issued the following local crop report, suggesting that the current growing season has ben delayed by the weather conditions: The growing season has obviously been delayed due to late arrival of Spring, snow cover and frost, and.....

US (CA): Stone fruit damaged by late season rains
The cherry and apricot crop in parts of the West Side sustained damage after late season rains hit the Central Valley on May 7 and May 8.After receiving 11 inches of rain in Patterson those two days, splitting and cracking in cherries and apricots were reported in some rural Patterson farms.Local farmer Dave.....

California Strawberry Commission analyzing regulation changes
State pesticide regulators are proposing to tighten regulations on the use of chloropicrin, a fumigant widely used in California's $2 billion strawberry industry.The department will accept public comment on the matter until July 31.The proposed rules would increase buffer zones around applications, limit the.....

US: Northwest cherry crop to be smaller this year
Northwest cherry growers anticipate the 2013 crop will be well short of last year’s record.Growers and marketers from Washington, Oregon and three other states in the region on Wednesday forecast this year’s crop for fresh consumption will be about 18.2 million 20-pound equivalent boxes.That compares to 23.2.....

US (WI): Cranberry prices squeeze growers
New cranberry vines at the Wetherby Cranberry Co. will eventually double yields at its Warrens bogs. But that’s not much help when the berries sell for less money than they cost to produce.A saturated cranberry market is driving down prices at a terrible time for regional growers. Many have made big.....

Giumarra expands Argentinian blueberry season with partnership
Giumarra International Berry is excited to announce its recently completed agreement with Early Crop, Argentina for the upcoming 2013 import blueberry season. Early Crop is a newly formed company whose primary production region is in Tucuman, which leads the start of the import berry season each year.“Early.....

US (CA): Grape Commission donates salad bars to state schools
On behalf of the state’s table grape growers, the California Table Grape Commission recently donated 27 salad bars to schools throughout the state. The districts include: Standard School District, Coachella Valley Unified, Sequoia Union Elementary School District, Porterville Unified and Visalia Unified.“We.....

Limoneira pairs with Canadian experts to "Unleash the Power of Lemons"
After launching its new marketing campaign, Unleash the Power of Lemons last year, Limoneira Company, a leading agribusiness, announced its partnership with five Canadian based experts in the areas of health, beauty, food and drink, lifestyle, and cleaning to promote the many innovative uses of lemons. The.....

US: Immigration law stunting crops
Bill Landreth bought a second tractor as Berries by Bill Inc. sold more melons, sweet corn and strawberries.He also expanded to 200 the acreage of his Newport, Arkansas, farm devoted to the fruits and vegetables, though that’s where the growth will end. After that, he runs out of workers.“We could do more,.....

Produce for Kids partners with grocery stores
Gearing up for its annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign, Produce for Kids has partnered with 13 supermarket grocery store chains across the country to help raise money for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local children’s charities. The campaign officially kicks off on May 26, 2013,.....

House farm bill has plenty for California growers
California lawmakers will now help propose another farm bill, hoping it will bear fruit for the state’s frustrated growers.The last farm bill died on the vine. But on Wednesday, House Agriculture Committee members are scheduled to start trying again, with a draft 576-page package that would change subsidies.....

US (WA): Record hot weather leading to averge crop yields
Record high temperatures in Washington recently have growers worried about the possible effects on their crops. Growers say ideal temperatures for fruit around this time are somewhere between 80 and 85 degrees.The warm weather can cause trees to bloom earlier, and it can actually affect the chemical thinning.....

Philadelphia Port improvements to help Chilean fruit trade
As the City of Philadelphia continues its role of as a major port for shipments of Chilean fruit, Chilean Minister of Agriculture Luis Mayol Bouchon met with Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday to talk about that fruitful relationship.Bouchon's visit to Philadelphia Tuesday to tout the importance of the Chilean fruit.....

Hans P Theyer to lead Fairtrade America
Fairtrade America, the new organization representing the international Fairtrade system in the United States, today announced the appointment of Hans P. Theyer as its executive director.“I have seen first-hand the incredible difference fair trade can make for farmers, workers and entire communities in.....

Ready Pac assesses factors leading millennial shoppers from traditional grocery shopping
Millennial shoppers’ challenge to grocery sector
The insatiable curiosity surrounding the Millennial generation (current age 18-35) is certainly not a new topic – but the importance of this complex demographic is growing, especially for grocery retailers. An apparent trend has surfaced, leading fickle (but abundant) Millennial dollars away from traditional.....

Harsh weather wrecks Texas peaches
Hill Country peaches are a Texas favorite but farmers say this year's severe weather nearly destroyed their crops.May would usually be harvest time, but this year the crop is virtually non existent."You really have to search to see, but every once in a while you'll see one peach," said Dianne Eckhardt, a.....

Texas A&M researchers investigate cancer-fighting properties of mango
In addition to being one of the most important tropical fruits consumed worldwide, recent studies by researchers at the Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation at Texas A&M University in College Station have shown that mangos also may help prevent breast cancer.“We wanted to investigate the.....

Village Farms: Q1 in line with expectations
Village Farms International, Inc. has announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.Net Sales decreased (10%) to $25.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 compared to $28.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012;Earnings (loss) per share of $0.07 for the quarter ended March 31,.....

Syngenta and DuPont agree on technology exchange
Syngenta and DuPont have announced technology licensing agreements that will broaden each company's crop protection product portfolio and enable both to bring new products to market more efficiently.Syngenta has obtained a global license from DuPont to develop products containing DuPont's fungicide.....

Coliman Group celebrates first 50 years
This year, Coliman, the Mexican fruit exporter celebrates 50 years of operations. The company has announced it is using the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to offering high flavour, quality and nutrition."The group was born in the state of Colima, hence the name," said Jorge Aguilar Jr., Corporate.....

Fowler Packing hires Derrick Bender for key sales post
Fowler Packing, one of the largest grower, packer and shippers of stone fruit, table grapes and clementines has hired Derrick Bender as Vice President of New Business Development. In his new role, Bender will help expand Fowler Packing’s domestic and international programs on their entire product.....

Celebrate the Year of Purple with purple produce merchandising from Frieda’s
Purple, say Frieda's, is eye-catching on the runway and an attention grabber in the produce department. Frieda’s Specialty Produce encourages produce merchandisers to take advantage of the Year of Purple celebration and create an exciting and attractive display that will encourage shoppers to buy healthy.....

Canada: Frost sets asparagus back
Freezing temperatures early Monday morning damaged asparagus and put a scare into apple growers, who lost their crop to the cold during last year’s bloom.Asparagus grower Keith Wright said he couldn’t estimate the damage to his crop outside Harrow Monday but said, “it could amount to some serious.....

"Wild year" makes it difficult for Florida watermelon growers
Florida watermelon growers get far less notice than their counterparts in citrus and the rapidly expanding blueberry industries, but Florida has consistently ranked among the top three states in watermelon acreage for the past five decades.For 20 years, watermelon growers in Florida and the US have.....

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds responds to healthy snacking trend
Paramount Farms launches new packaging
Paramount Farms, best known for its success in the produce aisle, is expanding its product offerings to meet the growing demand for quick, healthy snacks in convenience and foodservice channels with Wonderful Pistachios, the number one selling snack nut item, and Wonderful Almonds. The popular snack nut.....

All models of PakSense temperature monitoring labels now recyclable
PakSense Inc., an innovator in sensory solutions for packaging, announced at the United Fresh annual convention all models of PakSense temperature monitoring labels, including Ultra Contact, Ultra Wireless and XpressPDF, can now be recycled through the company’s GreenSense recycling program.PakSense.....

Bayer CropScience celebrates opening of new facilities
Bayer CropScience celebrated the opening of its new Development North America facilities and laboratories last week. These facilities boast 40,000 square feet of space in which nearly 70 scientists will conduct crop protection and environmental science research. The renovations and remodeling, a combined.....

Crunch Pak heads to Broadway
Crunch Pak, the fresh sliced apple specialist, is headed for a year long run on Broadway; the company will participate in marketing campaign that puts its fresh apple product portfolio on display on a gigantic electronic billboard in the heart of New York City's world-famous Times Square.The billboard,.....

Mexico: Concern over low vegetable prices
Mexico's vegetable markets have been marked by variability over the past few weeks, but in the case of tomatoes, prices have been notoriously low, which is causing concern in the agricultural sector, according to Carlos Alberto Esquer López.The president of the Association of Vegetable Producers of Yaqui and.....

Avocados from Mexico projected to break one billion volume mark
Avocados from Mexico has announced that it is projected to break the one billion pound volume mark for the 2012-13 season. Volume projections for the April-June 2013 time period were recently increased by 12%, bringing the total projected volume for the season to more than one billion pounds, which will.....

Cold spell sees Washington cherry forecast downgraded
Recent frosts and freezes have slashed the forecast for Washington's sweet cherry crop.Early cherry crop expectations of 24 million 20-pound boxes in the Northwest have dropped to 16 million to 18 million boxes, said Brianna Shales, communications manager for Stemilt Growers in the Tri-Cities.Stemilt's.....

Mexico: Mango exports to US fall 3%
Mango exports to the US in week ending May 4, 2013 totalled approximately 2,356,387 boxes, 3% lower than in the previous week, according to figures released by the National Mango Board (NMB).To date, Mexico has sent 19,370,151 boxes to the US Mango shipments for the next two weeks are expected to be of.....

US: Williams Farms choose SRS Hycool storage for potatoes
SRS Frigadon Ltd of Stratford upon Avon in the UK received an enquiry early 2012 for supplying a bespoke Hycool fluid SRS Frigadon chiller system the purpose being for a potato storage installation located in New York State, USA.Prior to considering the SRS Frigadon chiller ‘Secondary Refrigerant Systems’.....

Mann Packing supports tray sustainability with video release
Mann Packing will release a new video and ad campaign at United Fresh to reinforce the sustainability features of its lidless vegetable trays.Last fall the company re-designed its vegetable platter and removed the familiar black plastic portion of the package commonly used as the lid.The company decided to.....

US: Roundy's sales up 4%
Net sales at Roundy's Inc. were up 4.8 percent to $983.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, ending March 30, reflecting the benefit of new stores and a 1.3 percent increase in same-store sales.“We are pleased with our ability to continue to realize improvements in both sales and volume.....

Sprouts Farmers Market files to go public
Fast-growing Sprouts Farmers Market LLC, has filed to go public, saying it expects to raise up to $300 million.Sprouts has 157 stores in eight Southwest states, nearly half as many as segment leader Whole Foods Market Inc., also prominent in Colorado. Sprouts says it plans to open 19 more stores this fiscal.....

US (CA): Farm worker wages rise on labor shortage
Worries over labor shortages are leading San Joaquin Valley growers to increase wages to farm workers.Reports suggest that growers are offering up to $10 an hour for the harvest season. This is around $1 to $1.50 higher than last year. The labor shortage is related to increased border security and higher.....

Mexico: Tomato prices up 100%
Because of large weather changes in recent weeks, Mexico’s fruit and vegetables sector is facing a possible price increase of 100%, in particular in regard to tomatoes. This on top of current increases of industry price levels.Regarding the tomato, price fluctuations throughout the year are no surprise, says.....

Mexico: Asparagus packing plant to be set up in Michoacan
With the goal of reactivating Michoacan's agriculture and promoting the creation of jobs, the firm Growing Green will seek to set up a new asparagus packing plant in Michoacan's eastern region.The firm's Vice-president in operations, Roberto Jaime Díaz Celaya, stated that after an analysis of the area's.....

BioSafe Systems looking forward to United Fresh
BioSafeSystems is looking forward to exhibiting at the upcoming United Fresh Trade Show in San Diego, California. Like BioSafe, United Fresh is involved in all segments of the produce industry. Their annual convention and expo will be held from May 14-16.Visit BioSafe Systems’ booth (#1347) to discuss unique.....

Shipping to blame for high Indian mango cost in US
A study suggests US consumers are showing preference for Latin American mangoes, over those from India, as a result of lower prices. The study, conducted by the USDA, says the higher prices are attributable to high shipping costs and not the costs of meeting US food safety standards. There are reports of.....

US (FL): Orange crop estimate remains stable
Florida’s orange crop, the world’s second-largest, will be 11 percent smaller than first forecast in October, the US government said, affirming last month’s estimate and surprising analysts after beneficial rain.The state will produce 138 million boxes of the fruit in the harvest that started in October and.....

Mexico: 20% fall in banana exports during first quarter
Mexican banana exports fell by close to 20% during this year's first quarter, mainly due to the fruit's low quality, informed Francisco Hueso Alcaraz, president of the National Council of Banana Producers.He stated that last year the regions of Colima, Michoacán and Jalisco managed to export over 300 tonnes.....

Mexico: Bio-insecticide against Cabbage Looper developed
Jorge Ibarra Rendón explained that a new, stronger bio-insecticide is being developed through bioballistics which could be launched by late 2014.The Cabbage Looper pest, which is affecting many vegetable crops, particularly cabbages, in various Mexican regions, causing significant losses, will be tackled.....

US (CA): Peak cherry season arrives
On the cusp of California growers getting into Bing cherries this season, volumes of cherries have picked up. Production has been moving north, and it's expected to continue in the state through June.“Cherry production for us started in the southern part of the state, near Bakersfield, and it's now heading.....

US (TN): Strawberry harvest begins
Friday marked the first day of strawberry harvesting at Unicoi-based Scott’s Strawberry and Tomato Farms, and owner Steve Scott said early indications point to a bountiful crop this season.“We’ll have more than we can probably get rid of here in about a week or so,” Scott said Friday afternoon. Picking.....

Rivermaid to install 42 lanes of electronic cherry grading in 2014
Rivermaid Trading Company are proud to announce they will be installing a 42 lane electronic cherry grader in California next year. The machine is to be designed and manufactured by GP Graders.The turn-key 42 lane cherry line will be installed at Rivermaid’s Lodi plant.Rivermaid’s CEO, Patrick Archibeque and.....

Bid for more middle class clientele
US: Walmart launches image campaign
Wal-Mart has just launched a new image campaign , depicting their stores as “An American Success Story.”In an out-of-character move, it plans to air the campaign primarily during the Sunday morning news shows, targeting “opinion leaders” and more upscale shoppers than most of Wal-Mart’s current customers......

Mexico left taco behind
The Mexican convenience food market
In Mexico, which has a population of more than 100 million, the conventionalfood sector is becoming more and more important all the time. This is because the eating habits of the Mexican people have changed. It is a fact that the pattern of the food of the average Mexican becomes more and more the same as.....

US (CA): Grower develops cotton candy grapes
Table grapes come in many varieties, red, green, seedless, and now cotton candy. It isn't something most people would associate with the flavor of a grape but International Fruit Genetics created a variety it says tastes just like spun sugar.International Fruit Genetics General Manager David Cain said, "It.....

US (MI): Asparagus growers continue marketing program support
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced May 8 that asparagus producers have voted to continue the Michigan Asparagus Industry Development Program.MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams said the program will continue for an additional five years beginning June 8 and ending.....

It's potato planting time on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island potato growers are in the middle of one of the busiest times of their year...planting season. Just like many home gardeners look forward to working in their gardens and anticipate the growth that spring and summer brings, so too are Island potato growers excited to get on the land and.....

US: Hollandia Produce donates 3 Salad Bars
In cooperation with The United Fresh Foundation’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to California Schools campaign to donate salad bars to 350 California schools at the United Fresh 2013 convention in San Diego May 15th & 16th Hollandia Produce, LLC of Carpinteria, CA. is proud to announce the donation of 3 new.....

OrCal Inc. introduces new logo and website
Or-Cal, Inc., headquartered in Junction City, OR has introduced a new company logo, branding initiatives and released their new website at www.orcalinc.com.The logo features a tractor and an artistic rendition of row crops as well as fruit trees. The sun rising over the crops represents the commitment of.....

Curry & Company partners with Suncrest Produce Solutions
Sweet onion program enhancement
Curry & Company has formed an exclusive multi-year partnership with Suncrest Produce Solutions LLC of Lake Wales, Florida.Suncrest is owned by 20-year industry veteran Jason Turner. Suncrest is a large importer of Peruvian sweet onions and this partnership allows these imports to become a part of Curry.....

US: Retailers' berry focus
Berries are playing a starring role in many retailers’ Spring and Summer online marketing programs.Grocers across the US are generating high consumer interest, and strong, steady sales, of one of the produce department’s most indispensable categories throughout the year in general, and during the Summer.....

US: Mini melons' size resonates with consumers
C.H. Robinson introduced MelonUp! mini melons eight years ago, and since then, consumers have warmed up to the size and taste of them.“Recent surveys done by C.H. Robinson on the mini category show that shoppers purchase mini melons for their perfect portion size and sweet taste,” said Josh Knox, strategic.....

Lakewood offer customized packing solutions
Lakewood Process Machinery, primarily known for their blueberry packing and processing equipment, is hopeful to reach growers, packers, and repackers in need of custom equipment solutions for their fruit or vegetable packing lines by offering custom machinery and equipment solutions from their custom shop.....

NatureSweet lays off 65, adjusts production
NatureSweet has now laid off about 65 of 800 total employees at its Willcox facility, a figure that does not include the 400 inmates formerly used by EuroFresh.CEO Bryant Ambelang explained last week that NatureSweet had not previously announced this reduction in force (RIF), as it did not take full.....

DeltaTrak® appoints Peter Norton Director of Business Development
DeltaTRAK®, a leading innovator of cold chain management solutions today announced the appointment of Peter Norton as Director of Business Development. The cold chain industry veteran brings extensive experience in global programs and project management to the company along with a thorough knowledge of.....

Maglio & Company make per case donation to One Fund Boston
Maglio & Company has announced that for any split repack and tomato repack cases sold from its Boston distribution center during the month of May, the company is donating $.10 to The One Fund Boston. The One Fund Boston was formed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to.....

Best New Food Safety Product finalist
DeltaTrak showcases TTI solution at United Fresh
DeltaTRAK will showcase the ThermoTrace Time Temperature Indicator (TTI) solution at the United Fresh show in San Diego, California May 15th and 16th, 2013 (booth#1508). The TTI solution has been chosen as a United Fresh Best New Food Safety Product Finalist.DeltaTRAK's ThermoTrace TTI solution provides.....

Maersk Line Limited spending $500 million on new ships
Maersk Line, Limited (MLL), the US-flagged arm of Denmark-based Maersk Line, says it is spending $500 million on the purchase and reflagging of eight newer and larger container ships to improve services provided to itsUSmilitary, government and commercial customers. MLL says that the investment in the.....

Favorable weather makes for good Vidalia Sweet Carrots™
Good weather during the growing season has resulted in a good crop of Vidalia Sweet Carrots™. The carrots, grown and marketed by Curry & Company, are available until June.“We've had terrific weather, so that's made for a good crop,” said Curry & Company's Jamie Brannen. “The right combination of warm.....

US (FL): Citrus Department's proposed budget $48.1 Million
Executive Director Doug Ackerman has proposed a Florida Department of Citrus budget at $48.1 million, down 6.5 percent from the current $51.4 million budget, a $3.3 million decline. The budget proposal is based on the commissioners' estimate of a 2013-14 citrus crop similar to this season’s crop at 138.4.....

NatureSeal introduces formulation for fresh-cut avocados
For all the popularity of avocados among consumers, the challenge of their rapid browning after slicing has proved an obstacle for food processors. Avocados are a delicate fruit with an exquisite, silky-smooth texture. Different from apples, pears and other produce that have a firmer pulp, avocados require.....

US: Frieda's getting fired up for Summertime grilling
As shoppers kick off the grilling season with Memorial Day, Frieda’s Specialty Produce offers an exciting variety of produce to put on the grill. “Vegetables are no longer just the side show at the grill—they’re taking center stage,” said Karen Caplan, Frieda’s President and CEO. “Consumers are adding more.....

Sunkist Growers salutes Summer citrus at United Fresh
Bring on the sunshine! Sunkist is ready for summer, featuring its fresh, seasonal citrus products at United Fresh 2013 in San Diego.“Eating Sunkist® citrus is a refreshing way to stay healthy and energized during the warm summer months,” said Sunkist Advertising and Public Relations Manager Joan Wickham......

USDA orange estimate expected to remain stable
The USDA is to release its latest orange crop predictions this week. It is anticipated that predictions will remain the same, though there could be minor downward adjustment up to 1 million boxes. There are more reports of greening in Florida, though the weather has recently been very good, with lots of.....

México: Tamaulipas citrus production is in crisis
Tamaulipas' citrussector is mired in a severe crisis. First a drought affected one thousand hectares, then pests, followed by low prices in oranges, have driven citrusproducers to their ruin, as they are barely able to meet production costs.Juan José Rodríguez Flores, Sistema Productos Cítricos President,.....

Taylor Farms debuts Italian salad kit
Salinas-based Taylor Farms Retail this week debuts a new Italian Chopped Salad Kit with Salami and Cheese, expanding the company's wildly popular chopped line. The new "Italian Chopped Salad Kit" is a delicious mix of romaine lettuce, broccoli, red cabbage, celery, Italian cheese blend, green onions, salami.....

Zespri kiwifruit arriving in North America mid-May
New Zealand’s Zespri today announced its Green, Gold and Organic kiwifruit varieties will be arriving in North America mid May, two weeks earlier than expected. Aligned with Zespri’s socially and environmentally responsible business practices, Zespri’s premium superfruit are transported by ship, an efficient.....

US (CA): Fruit growers count losses after storm
Sunday's fierce, day-long wind storm hit Kern County's stone fruit and almond growers hard over the weekend - stripping cherries, peaches and plums off trees, ripping through almond orchards and uprooting thousands of the shallow-rooted trees.The blow to almond growers, who produce Kern County's.....

US: Whole Foods profit rises 20%
Whole Foods Market Inc (WFM)., the largest natural-goods grocer in the U.S., boosted its forecast for earnings this year after sales at established locations increased and second-quarter profit climbed 20 percent.Net income rose to about $142 million, or 76 cents a share, from $118 million, or 64 cents, a.....

Research linking blueberries to lower Alzheimer's risk is strong
Among the many changes that come with aging, memory loss is one that is feared the most. But if we take steps early enough, it's far from inevitable - research shows that simply changing our diet can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and eating more blueberries is a delicious way of doing.....

Produce Marketing, Business Management councils to launch at United Fresh
Two new United Fresh councils will convene for the first time at United Fresh 2013 in San Diego, May 14-16. The Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council and the Finance & Business Management Council will engage United volunteer leaders and build marketing and business value for all members. Roger.....

GFSI Recognizes GLOBALG.A.P.’s Integrated Farm Assurance and Produce Safety Standard Version 4.0
GLOBALG.A.P. North America Inc. (GGNA), the USA and Canadian division of the world’s largest private sector standards organization for Good Agricultural Practice, is pleased to announce that the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has recognized its Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA V4.0 - Fruit &.....

US: Tax vehicle could save exporters major money
A little-used tax vehicle has the potential to lower the tax liability of those who export produce out of the US. Though the specific tax implications vary from State to State, virtually anyone who exports goods out of the US can benefit from an often overlooked tax vehicle called an IC-DISC.IC-DISC stands.....