Packer Stories

03/27/2013

Pelion, S.C.-based WP Rawl is rolling out Nature’s Greens organic kale bags.

03/15/2013

Kale may be king of value-added fresh produce, at least among leafy blends and mixes.

03/01/2013

It’s mid-winter. Local produce is in the doldrums and spring favorites are a ways away. Google “kale” and you’ll find websites calling it “one of the healthiest vegetables around” and “the queen of greens.” The Chicago Sun-Times in January published an online article saying “kale is the new bacon,” and Bon Appetit named a Brooklyn, N.Y., restaurant’s kale salad its “2012 Life-Altering Dish of the Year.”

02/15/2013

Church Bros. LLC has introduced Italian Greens, a foodservice product that combines two baby kale varieties — black and scarlet — with wild arugula.

02/14/2013

BERLIN — It took 16 years to get a workable product, but Tozer Seeds Ltd. has a cross of two of the hottest vegetables in the consumer market. Flower Sprouts are a nongenetically modified hybrid cross between brussels sprouts and kale that produces a stalk small rosette “flower” heads of kale. The heads have streaks of purple edged with frilly leaves

Market Scope - Greens — F.o.b.s as of May 13

SOUTH GEORGIA — Shipments (11-20-18) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading early moderate, late slow. Prices collard higher, others unchanged. Cartons bunched 24s collard $7-8, kale $7-8, mustard curly $7-8, mustard flat $7-8, turnip tops $7-8. Some shippers are finished harvesting for the season.

LEXINGTON DISTRICT, S.C. — Shipments (13-18-18) — Movement expected to remain the same. Trading moderate. Prices May 14, compared to May 7, kale lower; others unchanged. Cartons bunched kale 24s $11, cartons loose turnip tops $10-11 and mustard $9-10. Various containers bunched collard 6s $9-10. Various containers loose collard 6s $10. Quality good.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA — Shipments (6-10*-10) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices unchanged. Various containers bunched/loose collards $6.50-7, kale $7-8, mustard $6.50-7, turnip tops $6.50-7. *revised.

CENTRAL COAST, CALIF. — Shipments (2-4-4) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early fairly active, late active. Prices higher. Cartons bunched 24s kale mostly $10.45-11.85. Quality generally good.