Produce suppliers in Minnesota’s Minneapolis-St. Paul region are gearing up for a strong fall season as summer fruits give way to heartier autumn offerings.
The Agricultural Labor Rights and Responsibilities Act implemented “in one fell swoop” a series of laws that took 10 years to pass in California, says Marilyn Bay of the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
Potatoes may be the No. 1 produce commodity the state’s growers ship, but a variety of other tasty fruits and vegetables emanate from Colorado each summer and early fall as well.
The state produces more than 70 varieties of potatoes, many of which undergo evaluation at the Colorado State University research farm prior to being released for public consumption.
Competition from Canada and local sources means business can be a bit lighter during the summer. Nonetheless, spring and early summer this year “have been very, very busy and very productive,” said one executive.
The packaging industry continues to come up with innovative ways to fill customers’ packaging needs, whether it’s a produce traceability solution, plastic-free bags or ways to sustainably transport liquid products.
Good weather and timely rains should result in some good-quality Ohio vegetables kicking off right on schedule by the end of June, grower-shippers say.
As the summer season hits, marketers of specialty produce in the Los Angeles area say sales remain strong, and at least one distributor is going beyond product sales to focus on additional support services.
