Latest News From Specialties

The Schiller Park, Ill.-based company says the season’s first Chilean red currants under the Sun Belle label are hitting stores now and will be available through mid-February.

Baldor Specialty Foods’ Kenneth Bower shares insights on specialty produce trends for retail and foodservice customers.

In this guest column, Minor Crop Farmer Alliance Chair Jim Cranney says new specifics on an EPA policy indicate the agency is taking a “act now, address questions later” approach to its pesticide program.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has endorsed legislation that would address specialty crop industry priorities.

Having a rambutan program brings diversity to a retailer’s shelves and entices shoppers to head to their stores for this unique item, says Gabe Bernal, vice president for Seasons Farm Fresh.

What is specialty produce, actually, and why does it matter for foodservice?

Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes specialty produce. Star fruit, dragon fruit and papaya fall into that category, but what of baby potatoes, lesser-known squash and microgreens?

For the past couple of weeks a certain specialty has been topping the charts on PMG — namely, loquat!

Strawberries retained the No. 1 spot on PMG the week of Feb. 1, but apples rose from No. 8 the previous week to take the No. 2 slot.

Pummelos were finally knocked from their weeks-long run at No. 1 when strawberries took the top spot on PMG the week of Jan. 25.

Pummelos, oranges and strawberries maintained the top three spots on PMG the week of Jan. 11, but mandarins rose from No. 11 the previous week to No. 4, and cabbage, previously No. 12, moved up to the No. 5 spot.

Winter is here, and given the social restrictions necessitated by the global pandemic, some would say it is the winter of all winters.

Pummelos and oranges maintained the top two spots on PMG the first week of January, but strawberries rejoined the list at No. 3.

Frieda Rapoport Caplan, founder of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, is memorialized in Inc. Magazine’s list of iconic entrepreneurs who died in 2020.

Hazel Technologies Inc. has a new partnership with Miami-based tropical produce company Fruits n’ Rootz.

Immunity will be top of mind this winter. In fact, according to a recent study, 68% of consumers are either using functional foods or are interested in using functional foods for immunity benefit this year.

With more people embracing a plant-based lifestyle, Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif., is prepared for the 43rd Annual World Vegetarian Day and Month (Oct.1/October).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a California port of entry recently intercepted drugs in shipments of fresh produce, including almost 7 ½ tons of marijuana in a load of limes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline for applying for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program funds, and added dozens of herbs and specialties as eligible crops.

The Oppenheimer Group is partnering with microgreens and edible flower Koppert Cress, doing business as Flavour Fields, to develop and market varieties of specialty produce.

Shanley Farms, Morro Bay, Calif., is seeing success with selling its Citriburst brand finger limes directly to consumers, especially during the pandemic.

Pro Citrus Network, Visalia, Calif., has a new brand of seedless red mandarins, the MandaRosa.

Catch up on the biggest stories of the week with Packer Insight, this week featuring coverage of the Potato Expo in Las Vegas, the FreshStart Conference in Tucson, Ariz., and the passing of industry legend Frieda Caplan.

(UPDATED, Jan. 21) Produce industry pioneer Frieda Rapoport Caplan, 96, has died.

Morning Kiss Organics, Chelsea, Mass., expects to see its biggest year for specialty citrus, with sales of cara caras increasing significantly over the past five years.

With winter and the height of citrus season in mind, Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s Inc. is rolling out grab-and-go pouches for two specialty citrus offerings.

Crystal Valley Foods, Miami, is finalizing the purchase of Asian, tropical and specialty fruit and vegetable importer Joco Produce, Medley, Fla.

Harvest Sensations, Miami, has a partnership with Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD).

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Tree-ripened mangoes and fresh-cut jackfruit are a couple of the hot produce trends to watch for in the coming months.

Costa Rica plans to bring a wide assortment of produce to the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Figs have spent a month in the No. 1 spot on Produce Market Guide, but yellow plums gave them a run for their money last week, climbing two spots from the week before to land at No. 2.

Florida specialty fruit growers are pushing back against the possible importation of mamey sapote from Mexico.

With seasonally increasing volume, Florida tropical marketers are look for “cart-stopping” time for the state’s specialties at supermarkets around the country.

Consumers are attracted to stores that stock tropical specialty fruit, according to new research from Frieda’s Inc., Los Alamitos, Calif.

Watermelons achieved a monthlong streak as the No. 1 most-searched commodity on Produce Market Guide during the week of June 10, with cucumbers retaining the No. 2 spot for the second week.

With the start of summer, white-flesh Angelcots are available from Frieda’s Inc., Los Alamitos, Calif.

NEW YORK — Wilda Ortega took all sorts of specialty produce out of display baskets to show visitors at the Coosemans New York booth at the New York Produce Show and Conference.

As healthy, colorful food grows ever more trendy in 2019, expect to see produce used in all sorts of crazy ways, according to Frieda’s Specialty Produce.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif., has been chosen to be a supplier to Sysco Corp.’s e-commerce platform, Supplies on the Fly.

Alex Berkley is the new sales manager at Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif.

Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s has seen a strong reception for the tamarind it is sourcing from Thailand.

New Zealand-based grower Enzed Exotics is encouraging consumers to include kiwano in their Cinco de Mayo festivities.

New Zealand-based Enzed Exotics is shipping kiwano melons directly to an East Coast port for the first time.

New Zealand kiwano melon grower Enzed Exotics is exhibiting for the first time at the New York Produce Show after seeing significant growth in U.S. sales.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, is promoting South African lychees for the holidays and winter months.

Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s Specialty Produce is showcasing jackfruit and marketing ideas for the tropical fruit during the Produce Marketing Association’s convention and expo in New Orleans.

A Rhode Island grower breaks record with massive pumpkin

California date grower-shippers say the 2017-18 crop is shaping up to be a fine one.

Suppliers watch trends to determine up and coming favorites in the ever-changing specialties category.

Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda's Specialty Produce, is joining other food executives and entrepreneurs to speak at the inaugural Vegas Food Expo.