Opinion http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion RSS Feed for Opinion Articles en-us Mon, 21 May 2012 18:17:24 GMT Cantaloupes take next safety step http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Cantaloupes-take-next-safety-step-152037215.html Cantaloupe growers took an important next step in mid-May, establishing California’s first mandatory food safety program overseen by a commodity board, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board. Mexico’s baby bust will complicate labor woes http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Mexicos-baby-bust-will-complicate-labor-woes-152036395.html The produce industry’s reliance on immigrant labor makes it a reluctant participant in one of the country’s most contentious political controversies — illegal immigration. Finding produce’s sweet spot on kids’ menus http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Finding-produces-sweet-spot-on-kids-menus-152035405.html I’m not at all surprised the National Restaurant Association’s 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast finds healthful kids’ meals, and fruit and vegetable sides in kids’ meals, among this year’s top menu trends. Q&A | Neal Carter, Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/QA--Neal-Carter-Okanagan--152034255.html National Editor Tom Karst recently chatted with Neal Carter, president of Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., Summerland, B.C. Okanagan Specialty Fruits is seeking U.S. and Canadian approval of what would be the first genetically engineered apple brought to market in North America. Produce left bereft in the drugstore http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Produce-left-bereft-in-the-drugstore-152031245.html AUSTIN, Texas — I squealed out loud when I was perusing my Sunday paper’s ads this week. Healthy, easy meals could win the day http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Healthy-easy-meals-could-win-the-day-152027835.html The message that fruits and vegetables are healthy and you should eat more of them seems to have fallen on deaf ears, if consumer actions are any indication. Take enough time to get ordering right http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Take-enough-time-to-get-ordering-right-152027045.html Whenever a produce manager decides to write an order, he or she is about to make at least a couple hundred decisions. Solving nutrition and obesity http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Solving-nutrition-and-obesity-151139525.html Obesity takes another turn in pop culture’s spotlight in May, as it’s the cover story of Newsweek magazine and the subject of a four-part HBO documentary, “The Weight of the Nation.” Industry efforts make a difference for kids http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Industry-efforts-make-a-difference-for-kids-151138565.html Of all the people who walked the show floor at the United Fresh 2012 convention in Dallas a couple weeks ago, it was young Ryan Powell, a Dallas-area student, who made one of the biggest impressions. Interaction holds key to social media strategy http://www.thepacker.com/opinion/fresh-produce-opinion/Interaction-holds-key-to-social-media-strategy-151116155.html We’ve all heard the stats: 901 million people are on Facebook, 140 million people are on Twitter, and 161 million people are on LinkedIn.