Latest News From Cynthia David

All leafy greens grown by members of the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement in California and Arizona are now subject to stringent new water restrictions. 

With flavors like Maple Bourbon Bacon and descriptions like Ranch-seasoned crouton crumble, roasted sunflower seeds and a creamy ranch dressing, today’s packaged salad components read more like menu items. 

Sales of packaged salads are exploding, tossed from a modest single-digit growth to a 33% spike during the now infamous week of coronavirus-related panic buying in mid-March. 

“When you believe in the products you deliver to consumers, it’s that much more rewarding when you achieve success,” said Chris Willett of Wenatchee, Wash.-based T&G Global.

Don Roper has come a long way from his first job as produce clerk at Copps IGA in Antigo, Wis.

A young woman fresh from university walks into the family apple business and announces to staff at least twice her age that she’s about to modernize the entire company with their help.

Grower-shippers of Red River Valley potatoes offer a selection of consumer packs in addition to the larger-sized sacks, cartons and totes they ship to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers.

Despite a challenging season, North Carolina’s premium sweet potatoes are set to hit supermarket shelves and dinner tables in time for Thanksgiving and winter holidays. 

Growing sweet potatoes is a labor-intensive business

North Carolina sweet potatoes have achieved superfood status as more and more people around the world discover their sweet, nutrition-packed flavor.

The USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program gets mixed reviews from sweet potato growers across the country. 

It’s the year nobody ever dreamed of, but thanks to good weather and healthy retail sales, sweet potato growers appear to be adapting well to their new world.  

Three-pound bags and microwavable sweet potatoes have been flying off supermarket shelves since COVID-19 struck in March. 

Keenes, Il-based Frey Farms is rebranding its entire line from Frey Farms to Sarah’s Homegrown by Frey Farms. 

The fact that COVID-19 may well lead to the cancellation of favorite fall activities, including Halloween, doesn’t bother the vice president of sales and marketing for Keenes, Ill.-based Frey Farms in the least. 

At one point this spring, Jason Turek wasn’t sure if he’d have enough labor to plant any pumpkins. Then he worried that nobody would buy them. Then government stimulus money kicked in, and he began to relax. 

Michele Youngquist, president of Bay Baby Produce, Mount Vernon, Wash., is introducing a new gourd this year, the Squidmo. 

Keeping employees safe and getting produce to anxious consumers in the time of COVID-19 has become as big a challenge for farmers as growing a healthy crop. 

When the state of Ohio shut down all restaurants and bars on March 15 with the words: “This is the real thing; this is not a drill,” Kirk Holthouse realized he had a big problem. 

Dragon fruit continues to lead the tropical pack, with gains of 21% in the past three months.

In March, tropicals were the last items on shoppers’ lists as they rushed to stock up on potatoes, apples and canned beans to survive the pandemic.  

A cold, wet spring may have gotten Ohio vegetables off to a slow start, but growers look forward to warmer days ahead and strong demand for local produce. 

Award-winning microbiologist Channah Rock is in the business of keeping our food safe. Fortunately for us, she loves her job.

The Mexican grape season has been ramping up and the number of available varieties keeps on growing, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold in the U.S.

If you think accountants are boring, you haven’t met Julie DeWolf, director of marketing operations for Sunkist Growers Inc. in Valencia, Calif.

It'd be easy to pity the grapefruit, overshadowed by mountains of super-sweet, easy-peel, kid-friendly mandarins ... but there is hope yet for this sunny yellow globe.

Ken Wall, owner of Sandy Shore Farms Ltd., says the one-man Mantis cart his company helped bring to market is resulting in 200% improved efficiencies compared to the standard three or five-man cart.

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association’s Produce Made Simple website saw tremendous growth last year.

Burlington, Ontario-based EarthFresh Farms is building a 140,000-square-foot potato packing plant and distribution center in Atlanta, Ga., to serve the Southeastern and south central U.S.

The provincial government has appointed Jason Verkaik, owner of Carron Farms in Tottenham, Ontario to a three-year term as vice chairman of AgriCorp, a crop insurance and risk management program for Ontario farmers.

Simcoe, Ontario-based Berlo’s Best, Canada’s largest sweet potato producer, is adding another 5,500 square feet to its storage warehouse for a total of 90,000 square feet.

August’s Harvest Inc., one of Ontario’s largest commercial garlic farms, has completed a successful pilot project in its quest to supply local garlic 365 days a year.

Asparagus growers may be the only happy farmers in Ontario at the moment.

It’s been a frustrating start to the Ontario field crop season, with farmers trying to seed their fields in the cold and wet as the growing window narrowed.

Montreal-based wholesaler Canadawide Inc. won the CPMA’s inaugural Corporate Culture award at the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention in Montreal. 

MONTREAL — Ryan Goad, category director for Loblaw Cos. Ltd. in Toronto, received the 2019 Mary FitzGerald award April 4 at the CPMA convention.

Everyone talks about the importance of culture in driving performance and contributing to an organization’s success.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 94th annual convention and trade show, April 2-4 at Montreal’s conference center, is shaping up to be one of the best Montreal shows ever.

Sales of fresh-cut herbs show no sign of wilting, with several up-and-comers gaining on category leader basil and new data showing that the gourmet herb shopper may be a produce manager’s best friend.