Shipping

Lucky Strike Farms works with Fowler Packaging

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:00:20 GMT

Lucky Strike Farms , Burlingame, Calif., is working closely with Fresno, Calif.-based Fowler Packing Co ., and the arrangement seems to be working out well.

“We’re extremely happy and gratified with Fowler Packing’s Peelz label,” said Gib Papazian, president of Lucky Strike Farms.

“They’ve done a tremendous job.”

This is the first year of the deal that was reached after Fowling Packing launched the label and asked if Lucky Strike would be interested in assisting with the marketing efforts, Papazian said.

Lucky Strike agreed to give it a try, “and it has been terrific,” he said.

The program involves 10x3- and 15x2-size cartons of Peelz brand easy-peel mandarins.

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Misionero Vegetables going through changes

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:00:20 GMT

Gonzalez, Calif.-based Misionero Vegetables has gone through significant changes since the Harbinger Group LLC acquired the company in 2016, said Nicole Zapata, marketing manager.

“The team has shaped and shifted accordingly while remaining true to its vision of being the boldest and most forward-thinking produce company on the planet,” she said.

Much of the Misionero team has remained the same, but a new executive suite has been formed including CEO Tom Minnich and president and COO Joe Merenda.

“The business is continuing to grow with the focus on people, culture, organics and innovation,” Zapata said.

New hires within the past year include Justin Balas as CFO, Martin Flewell as director of operations, Larry Norwald in national sales and Jennifer Lind in business intelligence.

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Peruvian avocado producers follow COVID-19 safety procedures

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:04 GMT

Strict food safety measures have been implemented as Peruvian avocado producers prepare to pack and ship up to 200 million pounds of high-quality fruit to the U.S. between June and September, according to a news release from the Washington, D.C.-based Peruvian Avocado Commission.

Peru’s government has ensured that exports of its products will be in compliance with new COVID-19 safety regulations, and that essential personnel involved in the transport and handling of exports will follow all necessary safety measures, the release said.

Authorities in Peru have mandated strict sanitary procedures to ensure that all crops are being carefully handled throughout the supply chain.

“Although there were early disruptions to the international market and domestic operations, the impact on the industry’s exports has not been significant,” Jose Antonio Castro, chairman of the Peruvian Avocado Commission, said in the release.

“Initially there was a slight slowdown in exports, but this was mostly due to market uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, and to industry learning how best to implement new safety practices.”

The market for Peruvian avocados continues to grow in the U.S., with most destined for the Midwest and East Coast.

Peru forecasts a 5% increase in 2020 exports compared to 2019 volume despite limitations caused by COVID-19.

“Peru continues to be a powerful player within the summer market, and as the demand for healthy foods like avocados continues to rise, AFP will make every effort to ensure consumer access to this iconic superfood, especially in stressful times like these,” Xavier Equihua, president and CEO of the Peruvian Avocado Commission, said in the release.

To help move Peruvian avocados in supermarkets, Avocados from Peru has developed a comprehensive menu of marketing strategies that retailers can implement using traditional and new media, the release said.

Bloomberg has cited a broad range of economic initiatives by the Peruvian government as a “stimulus package that equals about 12% of its gross domestic product of Peru, the biggest in all of the Americas,” the release said.

Equihua said the measures to ensure economic stability in the wake of COVID-19 were “nothing short of exceptional.”

“In the same vein, AFP is committed to assisting the heroes across the supply chain in any way possible, and providing healthy food options like Peruvian avocados to customers,” he said.

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COVID-19’s effects on onion market expected to lighten over summer

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:40 GMT

To view more COVID-19 related content click here.

As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic delivered a devastating blow to many businesses that buy onions, it left no doubt about the importance of onions in diets worldwide, suppliers say.

“When COVID first hit, onions, potatoes and toilet paper were the hottest items out there,” said John Castillo, buyer and salesman with Fullerton, Calif.-based grower-shipper JBJ Distributing Inc.
Orders flooded into JBJ almost immediately, Castillo said.

“Generally, I buy about three or four tons a day; then, I was buying 10-12 tons a day, and it was going out the back door as fast as we could get it,” he said.

Demand contributed to a supply gap between the end of Mexico’s season and start of the deal in California’s Imperial Valley, Castillo said.

“I think that’s where the gap came from,” he said.

“Most of these guys had what they usually had in storage to kind of bridge to where their new crops came in. Between them and Mexico, that’s kind of getting us through.”

The pandemic brought various social-distancing and stay-at-home restrictions in March and April and forced closures of restaurants and schools — both key onion buyers — across the U.S., Castillo said.

“They’re the ones that got hit the worst; that’s why retail stores, luckily, we have some good retail accounts, and that’s why we’re buying all we could get our hands on,” he said.

By mid-May, restaurants in some regions were beginning to open to diners again, with restrictions in place.

“I’m sure there’s a couple of companies that are going to come out of this wobbling pretty hard,” Castillo said. “They’ll come back, but it’s going to be a slow go.”

For onion suppliers that focus primarily on retail accounts, the pandemic was less devastating, suppliers said.

“We do about 80% retail, so it’s had a positive effect for our bottom line,” said Derrell Kelso, CEO of Stockton, Calif.-based Onions Etc .

COVID-19 damaged the foodservice sector, but not permanently, Kelso said.

“In the long run, it’s going to be great for foodservice people, too, because they’ve been very creative,” he said.

“Those that have survived will come out stronger, with developing new markets and all the things they’re doing.”

Oxnard, Calif.-based fresh-cut onion processor Gills Onions noted the resilience of onion sales, even though foodservice took a major hit from the pandemic, said Megan Jacobsen, vice president of sales and marketing.

“When you think of a consumer — say a millennial mom — cooking in your kitchen, onions are a good way to add flavor,” Jacobsen said.

“We all know the storage capabilities. It lasts a lot longer than other fruits and vegetable. People are cooking at home more with what’s happening. You can buy it easily and don’t have to worry about using it up right away.”

The retail and industrial sides of the onion business have remained strong through the COVID-19 crisis, and foodservice is showing some signs of recovery, Jacobsen said.

“It is no secret that foodservice has dropped, but we’re seeing increased volume in foodservice every week,” she said. “Everything dropped off the week of March 16, but we’re seeing big growth every week now. The positive direction is, the longer we’re in this, the more our supply-chain partners are adapting.”

Meanwhile, suppliers have instituted their own restrictions to protect workers, said Robert Verloop, COO with Salinas, Calif.-based Coastline Family Farms.

“The onion industry has been affected by the COVID fallout in myriad ways,” he said. “We have the same concerns as all grower shippers: the health of our workers, labor shortages, and concern for our customers required to shut down or limit sales.”

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California onion growers anticipate good quality, low prices

New Jersey ag businesses get guidelines for COVID-19

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:04 GMT

For more COVID-19 related news click here.

New Jersey officials and produce leaders are grappling with how to mitigate the health and safety of the state’s people as it is the second-most dangerous U.S. state for the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

By May 23, the state had almost 11,000 deaths due to COVID-19 and 152,700 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York has more than twice the death toll, with 28,800 coronavirus deaths by that time.

To that end, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued COVID-19 guidance May 21 on working conditions, as well as testing and treatment procedures, to help agricultural businesses and farmworkers lower the risk of and potential exposure to COVID-19.

Thousands of seasonal farmworkers, migrant and local, come to New Jersey farms in the spring and have to work close by their coworkers, plus they often rely on employer-provided group transportation and camp-style housing.

“Protecting seasonal workers on these farms is a high priority because they work and live in close proximity to one another,” state health commissioner Judith Persichilli said in a news release.

“The health department is working with growers, local health departments and our federally qualified health centers to minimize that risk and to ensure that once they are tested, follow-up and isolation and quarantine plans are in place for workers,” she said in the release.

Once a worker is suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19, the state guidance advises employers to contact the local health department and immediately assign the worker a separate bathroom and provide separate living space or alternate housing, if effective isolation in their current living space is not possible.

Workers who were in close contact with the affected workers are to be screened and watched for symptoms.

Costs related to testing and treatment for COVID-19 will not be charged to the employer or worker, according to the news release.

“Any hospitalization or isolation housing provided by the state of New Jersey will not be charged to employers or workers,” the guidance said.

The guidance also sets out conditions for when employees can return to work and outlines existing employment-based protections for workers.

That guidance prohibits employers from firing or punishing an employee who requests or takes time off due to a medical professional’s determination that the worker has or is likely to have COVID-19. Most workers will be eligible for paid sick time if they contract COVID-19 and also may be eligible for workers compensation if they get COVID-19 while working, according to the release.

“We have a responsibility and an obligation to make sure these workers — and the farmers who hire and house them — maintain safe and healthy workplaces in which to harvest and bring to market the state’s crops,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.

Strict food safety protocols already in place have made following this kind of guidance less daunting, said Bill Nardelli Jr., vice president of sales and marketing for Nardelli Bros. Inc., which has its Nardelli Lake View Farms, cooling and packing facilities in Cedarville, N.J., and its distribution center in Vineland, N.J.

“It’s been a good basis to work off of,” Nardelli said, mentioning his company’s third-party audits with Primus and USDA.

He also wanted to thank the workers at the retail and distribution levels.

“You can’t say enough about the people working at the stores, from the distribution at the warehouse to the store-level clerks, produce managers and all the people,” Nardelli said.

“They’re doing a great job for everybody and really helping get the products to the store shelves where people really need them.”

Many growers, packers, shippers and marketers have detailed COVID-19-updated safety policies on company websites. That includes indoor farms.

As part of its standard operating procedures based on third-party audits at indoor aeroponic, vertical AeroFarms , Newark, N.J., employees wear personal protective equipment including a hairnet, face cover, safety gloves, glasses and overcoat. The company’s HVAC filtration systems have a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating of 13.

Before entering the AeroFarms workplace, employees are evaluated with infrared thermometers and sent home if symptomatic. Surfaces are being sanitized multiple times a day, more hand-sanitization stations were established, and the company is enforcing social distancing, promoting work-from-home when possible, and equipping drives with more sanitation supplies.

The automated characteristics of indoor agriculture that don’t require many workers in one place have been an advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Carmela Cugini, executive vice president of sales at Bowery Farming , New York. The compay has two indoor farms in Kearny, N.J.

Bowery’s operations haven’t been affected so far during the new coronavirus, Cugini said.

Like other farms, Bowery already had strict food safety standards in place and has stepped up sanitizing, cleaning, social distancing and added masks.

“By using our machine learning and using vision sensors, we really don’t have anybody growing in the farm, and we have very few people operating the farm,” she said.

For the employees who pack the leafy greens and herbs, food safety and government guidance is followed.

“We’re talking to them every day, trying to understand their situation. If people have to flex their hours because of childcare, we’re allowing that to happen. We’re doing things like preparing meals for them to take those meals home and not just for themselves, but for them and their family,” Cugini said.

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Research finds positive health effects of strawberries

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:51 GMT

Six studies from U.S. universities found positive effects of strawberry consumption.

The studies, presented June 1-4 at Nutrition 2020, the annual American Society for Nutrition meeting that was online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They cover gut microbiota, cardiovascular, metabolic and cognitive domains research and highlighted the potential outcomes strawberry consumption may have on human health, according to a news release from the California Strawberry Commission.

Strawberries contain vitamin C, fiber, potassium and folate, but they are not always talked about for being rich in flavonoids, according to the release.

“Because of these flavonoids, strawberries have been identified to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that improve gut bacteria, cardiovascular, metabolic and brain function,” according to the release.

Results from gut microbiome studies indicate that increased consumption of strawberries changes the composition of gut bacteria.

Heart health studies suggest that strawberry consumption improves cholesterol in high-risk adults and vascular function.

“Individuals at risk for diabetes may benefit from consuming two and half servings of whole strawberries and experience improved insulin function within four weeks,” Arpita Basu, metabolic health researcher with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, said in the release.

Research in brain health and strawberries unveiled an association between those who ate the most strawberries and a decrease in one of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Nardelli Bros. continues tray-pack corn

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:55:59 GMT

Hugh Branch, South Bay Fla., is in its second year partnering with Nardelli Bros. Inc. , Cedarville, N.J., offering its corn for the New Jersey company’s tray-pack operation.

“We’re really excited for that,” said Bill Nardelli Jr., vice president of sales and marketing.

“I think our packaged items have given us a lot of good exposure, and people are looking for that in stores.”

Nardelli Bros. plans to begin its Jersey Fresh corn about July 4, and have it packaged for retailers.

“We’re continuing to try to do as many items in our overwrap as we can. Whatever our retailers are looking for,” he said.

The company is also wrapping peppers, pickle cucumbers and beans.

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Outlook good for California onions
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Coastline Family Farms adds Stockton supply

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:51 GMT

Salinas, Calif.-based Coastline Family Farms is launching onion production in Stockton, Calif., this year, said Robert Verloop, chief operating officer.

Coastline already had been growing onions in California’s Imperial Valley for several decades and, through a partnership with Echo, Ore.-based Madison Ranches and expansion in Imperial Valley, had grown to a year-round supplier, Verloop said.

“What started as a regional/seasonal program has now developed into a strong year-round fresh onion program through the partnership (MCO) with Madison Ranches in Echo Oregon (September-March), expanded Imperial program (April-June), and this year we are introducing a new program in the Stockton area (July-September),” Verloop said.

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Sustainability, conservation play role in grape vineyards

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:42 GMT

To find the latest news and resources related to conservation agriculture and sustainable food systems, visit AgWeb.com/ACAM.

Whether it’s out of concern for the land, the people or the environment, many California table grape growers have adopted sustainable growing and business strategies to guide their vineyards into a productive, profitable and ecologically sound future.

Pandol Bros.

When it comes to getting the bugs out of its operation, Delano, Calif.-based Pandol Bros Inc. is full of innovative ideas.

While its neighbors typically pull out acreage after a crop cycle is finished and immediately go back in for the next planting, Pandol Bros. sets aside some acreage, planting annual crops to provide habitat for upland game birds.

“We tend to leave land fallow for two to three years,” said John Pandol, special projects director.

“On our fallow land, we strategically plant annual and native crops for migratory water fowl and local birds,” he said.

The practice allows the land to rest, provides a habitat for birds and at the same time helps control the vineyards’ bug population.

“Birds eat insects,” Pandol said.

The process doesn’t stop there.

The annual plants suck up carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere, and at the end of the season, the plants are worked into the ground.

“When we plant that land, we have better soil,” Pandol said.

The program doesn’t add a lot of additional cost, he said.

Most of any negative cash flow would be in the lost opportunity of not actively farming.

But on the plus side, over the years, the plan results in better quality soil.

Pandol Bros. also uses beneficial insects to combat bad bugs that can attack its vineyards.

“In the late 1970s or early 1980s, we planted some rows of blackberries for habitat for beneficial insects,” Pandol said.

They’re still there.

“We haven’t populated it for years, either with a predator for a specific pest or a broad spectrum predator like lady bugs,” he said. “The beneficial insect habitat has been there for 40 years.”

Some efforts to control insects can have drawbacks, he said.

“Spiders are actually a really great biological control,” he said.

The problem is, they can be a safety hazard for workers, and sometimes they end up leaving the field in the bags with the grapes.

Sunview Marketing

Delano, Calif.-based Sunview Marketing International would prefer to use the term “stewardship” than descriptors like sustainable or environmentally friendly, said Mitch Wetzel, vice president of sales and marketing.

Stewardship involves the land itself, the company’s associates, many of whom have been with the firm for many years, and the water, he said.

The environment and energy are “tangential pieces” that also are of concern.

Now more than ever, it’s important to make sure that the company’s longtime associates who have invested a lot of time and dedication feel safe, that Sunview is producing a safe product, and that “everybody continues to be positive no matter how tough the circumstances can be,” he said.

When it comes to stewardship, the company’s ownership and management teams focus on what is going to make the most long-term sense, Wetzel said, whether it’s water conservation measures, efficient land use or ways to train and invest in people so that they will have long professional careers within the company.

A stewardship program must be made up of several different pieces to be effective, he said.

“If it’s one dimensional, it’s not going to work.”

The company, for example, has its office and cold storage area covered with a solar array, it has an extensive integrated pest management program and is one of the largest organic grape producers, Wetzel said.

“It’s all pieces,” he said. “It’s not one big thing that makes you a good steward. It’s got to be a lot of things.”

Top Brass Marketing

Top Brass Marketing Inc., Bakersfield, Calif., is into energy conservation, said Brett Dixon, president.

“We currently have 5 acres of solar panels that run 1 megawatt of electricity that offsets approximately 80% of our energy use at our cold storage facility,” Dixon said, “further committing to a sustainable future here at Top Brass.”

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Assessment rates lowered for South Texas onions

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:42 GMT

Effective July 30, assessment rates for onions handled under the South Texas onion marketing order will decrease from 6.5 cents to five cents per 50-pound unit.

According to a final rule published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the South Texas Onion Committee in November recommended the decrease to help reduce the committee’s reserve fund and reduce the assessment burden on handlers.
The committee estimated 2020 shipments of south Texas onions at 3.96 million 50-pound bags. The major expenditures recommended by the committee for the 2019-20 year include $69,992 for management and administration, $50,000 for compliance, and $20,000 for research, according to the final rule.

The USDA said there are approximately 60 producers of onions in the production area and approximately 30 handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order.

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California black grapes find a niche

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:42 GMT

Black table grapes rank a distant third in sales after red and green varieties, but there’s a decided group of consumers who have taken a liking to the darker-hued fruit.

Grower-shippers seem divided over the impact of black varieties.

Daniel Bell, senior produce and floral buyer for Grocery Outlet Inc ., a chain of 246 stores based in Emeryville, Calif., is a fan of black grapes, and so are many of his customers.

He said he’s seen an uptick in sales of black varieties.

“That one is really gaining in popularity,” he said. “There’s a big opportunity for growth there.”

He attributes some of their popularity to the large number of new varieties and their taste.

“When black grapes are in peak season in October, they’re just so flavorful,” he said.

“I think consumers are figuring that out and going toward them earlier in the season now.”

Related: California grape varieties proliferate

Grocery Outlet tries to feature black grapes on ad a couple of times a month, Bell said.

Nick Bozick, president of Richard Bagdasarian Inc ., Mecca, Calif., sees potential in the black grape category.

“Some of the black varieties have some of the best flavor profiles that are out there,” he said.

And it’s becoming a more consistent flavor profile.

Sun World International LLC , International Fruit Genetics and even the U.S. Department of Agriculture have developed some great-tasting black grapes, Bozick said.

Sable, Midnight Beauty and Sweet Sapphire are among his favorites.

An obstacle to black grape purchases is the fact that some consumers perceive them all to be grapes with seeds, he said.

But he believes that misconception is getting bridged as retailers promote new ones.

“They’ve got a lot of customers who are really followers of these black varieties,” he said.

Black grapes are a good export item, especially for buyers in Korea, Hong Kong and Malaysia, said Jeff Olsen, president of The Chuck Olsen Co., Visalia, Calif.

Related: New grape varieties enhance retail sales

“They travel well,” he said.

Autumn Royal, which usually comes on in August or September, is a strong black variety, he said.

It’s a large, sweet, elongated grape, similar to the Scarlet Royal and an inch-plus in diameter.

They’re around until November.

The Chuck Olsen Co. has been selling more black grapes in recent years, he said.

“There are retailers who do push black a lot,” he said.

Bob Bianco, co-owner of Anthony Vineyards , Bakersfield, Calif., wouldn’t say there is a trend toward black grapes, but he did say there are “way more black grapes being sold” compared to 20 years ago.

Customers who used to buy a couple of pallets per load now buy a half- or even full truckload, he said.

He attributes their popularity to their good taste.

“The consumer has found out they eat good, and they’re buying more of them,” he said.

Not all suppliers are enthusiastic about black grapes, and some say there are too many of them on the market.

“Black varieties in the area seem to be generally oversaturated as compared to overall demand,” said Brett Dixon, president of Top Brass Marketing Inc ., Bakersfield, Calif.

Top Brass offers the Summer Royal and Sweet Sapphire varieties.

Related: Coachella Valley grapes off to late start

Pandol Bros. Inc ., Delano, Calif., has Summer Royal and Autumn Royal in its lineup, but John Pandol, the company’s special projects director, said black grapes are not huge sellers.

“For whatever reason, black grapes don’t seem to excite consumers,” he said.

Nonetheless, there are supermarkets that are “monster black customers,” he said.

“I have no good explanation for that.”

For many customers, black grapes “sell at a slower clip, tend to get old, and shrink is higher, so they don’t stock them,” he said.

“We get a lot of that.”

Legislation introduced to ban Chinese citrus imports

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:33:09 GMT

Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House to prohibit imports of fresh citrus from China.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., has introduced the U.S. Citrus Protection Act . The legislation, according to a news release, would prohibit the importation of commercially produced fresh citrus fruit from China.

“As farmers and ranchers in Florida and across the country are struggling to cope with the decreased demand for their products as a result of the economic shutdowns, more than ever we need to put America first and cannot give foreign entities a competitive advantage,” Steube said in the release.

“Communist China is responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent economic damages that have impacted our nation’s farmers, and now they are trying to profit off of our hardship.”

Despite consistent long-term opposition from some U.S. citrus leaders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture in mid-April approved U.S. imports of Chinese pummelo, nanfeng honey mandarin, ponkan, sweet orange, and satsuma mandarins.
USDA scientists said they believe the Chinese citrus varieties can be safely imported into the U.S. under a systems approach to protect against the introduction of plant pests.

The USDA’s decision sparked opposition from Florida officials.
In an April 21 letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried called the decision to allow Chinese imports a “misguided policy change,” during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it poses a risk to Florida’s citrus industry and other crops.

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Quebec group provides wellness resources for produce growers

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:55:41 GMT

The mental health of Quebec’s produce growers is top of mind among all the stress of the summer peak season.

To assist and offer support, the Quebec Produce Growers Association offered resources on its July 24 marketing newsletter.

“Take care of yourself! Don’t wait until your stress level is too high to seek help,” the letter states.

The association listed several resources to help:

At the heart of farm families at 450-768-6995, acfareseaux.qc.ca;
Row workers, or social workers in agriculture in different regions of Quebec, bit.ly/Quebec-ag;
Other help resources, including a toll-free phone consultation at 833-368-8301, bit.ly/Quebec-resources; and
An educational document produced by the Department of Health and Social Services on stress, anxiety and depression related to COVID-19 and ways to address it: bit.ly/Quebec-mental-resources.

Washington apple crop estimated similar to 2019

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:37 GMT

A new estimate projects that the 2020 Washington apple crop will be similar in size to last season.

The Yakima, Wash.-based Washington State Tree Fruit Association forecasts the 2020 fresh crop in the state at 134 million 40-pound cartons, nearly the same as the 2019 crop of 133.9 million cartons.

“The 2020 Washington state apple crop looks to be similar in size to last year’s,” Jon DeVaney, association president, said in a news release. “Harvest is underway and growers anticipate being able to meet strong consumer demand with an ample and high-quality harvest. Our members are growing large crops, but with more varieties to choose from and while continuing to raise the already high standards of quality that domestic and international consumers have come to expect.”

For the second year in a row, gala variety apples will be the biggest volume variety, according to the release. Galas will account for 23% of the state’s crop, compared with 17% for red delicious, 14% for fuji, 13% each for Honeycrisp and granny smith and 5% for cripps pink.

The surging Cosmic Crisp variety will account for about 1.2% of the total crop, according to the release,

Organic apple production is forecast to reach 21 million cartons, or 16% of the fresh crop. That compares with organic production of 15 million cartons in 2019, according to the release.

The fresh apple forecast is based on a survey of association members, according to the release.

Washington apple harvest began in August and continues into November, and the release said the forecast is subject to several months of variable weather.

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California’s harvest may hit 400 million pounds

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:38 GMT

California’s 2020 avocado harvest is expected to reach nearly 400 million pounds — almost an 85% increase over last year, according to the Irvine-based California Avocado Commission .

The harvest is expected to continue into September with limited volume extending into October.

Jan DeLyser, the commission’s vice president of marketing, attributed the smaller 2019 crop to severe heat the prior season and to the crop being alternate bearing.

“This year’s crop has benefited both from naturally being a larger crop in the alternate-bearing cycle and excellent growing conditions,” she said.

About 20% of the crop will remain to be harvested in August through October, according to commission estimates.

“There has been a nice range of sizes to meet the demands of customers, and the eating quality has been consistently very good,” DeLyser said.

Prices generally have been good despite some volatility as the supply chain adjusted to the COVID-19 situation, and she said prices should continue to be favorable as long as the supply flow is stable.

Escondido, Calif.-based Henry Avocado Corp. was winding down its avocado program in the southern part of California but will continue to harvest in the north, said president Phil Henry.

“We project having California fruit available until the harvest is completely finished in California, and we never know exactly when that is going to be,” he said. “But it can easily go through the summer and into the fall.”

Harvesting will take place in Ventura County, transition to the Santa Barbara/Goleta area and then move northeast into the Santa Maria area and as far as Morro Bay and the San Luis Obispo area, he said.

“It takes longer to grow in the northern area, so they have fruit available later in the summer and into the early fall, depending on the size of the crop,” Henry said.

Eco Farms , Temecula, Calif., has several months to go with its California crop, said Gahl Crane, sales director.

“It’s been a good season,” he said, “with steady volume, great demand and great support from the retail side.”

Strong retail sales made up for the company’s drop in foodservice business that resulted from restaurant closures prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

California’s avocado season actually peaks in May and June, before the official start of summer, Crane said.

Peak weeks for California this year were the last week of April and the first week of May, he said.

“May was the biggest month for California avocados.”

The market needed avocados at that time because Peruvian imports were late arriving in the U.S., he said.

Peak sizes for California avocados this summer were 60s and 70s for most growers, he said.

Almost all the 48s have been moving quickly through programs with few left for the spot market, he said.

That meant premium prices for growers on larger fruit.

Although only about 80% or so of the state’s crop remained to be harvested in late July, Fallbrook, Calif.-based Del Rey Avocado Co. Inc. had a little more than most suppliers because the company has a lot of late-season fruit, said partner Bob Lucy.

He expected Del Rey to finish its California harvest in mid-October, about a month later than most other shippers.

Quality has been excellent this summer with no really hot weather, Lucy said.

“Growing conditions have been wonderful,” he said.

The size range was about 35%-40% size 48s, 20%-25% size 60s and 10%-15% size 40s.

He described the pack out as “very normal” with 5% to 10% No. 2-grade fruit.

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Del Monte Fresh Produce opens facility in Mexico

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:33:09 GMT

Del Monte Fresh Produce NA, Coral Gables, Fla., has opened its own packing facility in Michoacán, Mexico, said Chris Henry, vice president of sales and product management for avocados.

“The team has done an incredible job expanding efficiencies to guarantee that Fresh Del Monte continues to consistently provide our customers with the freshest fruit that meets our strict standards,” he said.

The company has ripened avocados available at 25 distribution centers across the U.S., Henry added.

Also at Del Monte Fresh, Scott Ross, most recently with West Pak Avocados, Murrieta, Calif., has joined the company as senior sales manager for the avocado program.

“(Ross) has already made a positive impact expanding our customer base in the Northeast by offering his insight into the category and retail experience,” Henry said.

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Northwest council adds staff

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:24 GMT

The Yakima, Wash.-based Northwest Horticultural Council has hired Riley Bushue as its new director of government relations and export programs, said Mark Powers, president.

“As is normal in a small organization, he’ll have a variety of responsibilities,” Powers said.

Bushue, an Oregon native, has been working for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, who represents eastern Oregon. Walden in the only Republican in Oregon’s Congressional delegation.

Bushue will start his new job in October, Powers said.

“Obviously, he’s got the government-relations side of things, which is important in our line of work, but he also has the other things are what most employers look for — fits with the team, wants to be a resident in our community, has the communications and writing skills,” Powers said.

“He’s got the skills, personality and drive to be successful, and we’ll teach him our industry.”

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Washington apple volume could be similar to last year’s crop

Pacificpro has new venture

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:24 GMT

Bellevue, Wash.-based Pacificpro Inc . completed a transaction Aug. 1 to acquire the former Washington Harvest cold-storage and packing facility in Wapato, Wash., from Chuck and Annette Hankins, said Marcus Hartmann, Pacificpro’s vice president of operations.

The new entity, Glacier Peak Cold Storage and Packing, will continue to operate in the same capacity as it has for nearly 30 years, with cross-docking, cold storage, packing, repacking, Hartmann said.

Glacier Peak also runs a full-time consolidation service across the Yakima Valley with multiple trucks running full-time five days a week to consolidate multi-pick loads to a single location, Hartmann said.

New staff includes Herman Lazo, general manager; Teresa Perrotti, accounting and support; and Marlen Romero, production. Additional staff includes forklift operators, production and packing staff, flatbed and local haul consolidation truck drivers, Hartmann said.

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Outlook’s strong for Tex-Mex vegetables, growers say

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:16 GMT

Beets, cabbage, greens, herbs, parsley, potatoes, radishes and spinach are some of the produce crops Texas produce suppliers will be shipping in December.

Shipments of both Texas produce and Mexican produce will be gaining steam in the weeks ahead, said Dante Galeazzi, CEO and president of Texas International Produce Association.

“Texas citrus is starting; you have Texas herbs picking and Texas cabbage around the corner,” he said.

Onions are in the ground and Mexican imports of tomatoes, berries, tropical fruit, squash, bell peppers and more will be increasing.

Looking ahead, Galeazzi said industry leaders are anxious to see the direction of the Department of Homeland Security in the next administration, and whether they will have a more open border for non-essential travel compared with the Trump administration.

“A lot of the communities down here depend on that sales tax (revenue),” he said.

In addition, industry leaders will be watching whatever happens in the administration in terms of its attitudes and actions toward trade, regulation and engagement with the industry.

“We have seen over the last two year more outreach happening, and we hope that continues regardless of the administration moving forward,” he said, noting the importance of industry communication with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In particular, he said that a lot of Texas growers are using the H-2A program, and preserving that uninterrupted access to workers is essential.

“We are going to continue to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and make sure that the workforce can travel as needed to be able to fill the needs that our American farmers have.”

Crop outlook

Texas green and red cabbage will start in earnest the first of December and Donna-based Grow Farms Texas will have Texas-grown onions for harvest in April and May, said Tommy Wilkins, director of sales.

“We have more Texas cabbage in the ground and hope to expand our Texas onion program, he said.

Wilkins said Grow Farms Texas has Italian sweet red onions planted for harvest in late April and May, depending on the weather.

Despite rains in July and some in September, Jeff Brechler, sales representative with Little Bear Produce, Edinburg, Texas, said south Texas vegetable crops were able to be planted in good time.

“We look to have a successful Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s campaign without any interruptions in our supply,” he said.

Little Bear Produce has leafy green, herbs and cabbage beginning in November.

The effect of COVID-19 on acreage is variable, he said.

“Growers, packers and shippers are put between a rock and a hard spot,” Brechler said.

“If we do plant our normal acreage and business is off, then we’re stuck with having an extra product, and if we make an adjustment, and there (is) business as usual, then we’re going to be short,” he said.

“We’re either going to upset the grower or farm manager or we’re gonna upset a retail or wholesale customer.”

Retail business has been up and foodservice demand is off, of course, but in general Brechler said Little Bear Produce expects a comparable year to a year ago.

“We do not have any direct foodservice business; I know we do some indirectly through our wholesalers throughout the U.S.” he said.

While wholesale business has declined some, those operators are entrepreneurial and can adjust quickly to other business, he said. Some wholesalers have tried direct-to-consumer business, while others have take part in the Farmers to Families Food Box program.

“That program has been helpful to a lot of folks,” he said.

When COVID-19 hit last season, Brechler said some of the lower volume vegetables from the shipper were hurt by shifting demand from retailers, who thinned the variety of vegetable items sold in retail stores because of the crush of business.

On the plus side, Little Bear saw demand for consumer bag onions double for a three-month period this spring.

“I don’t know if there was a fear of the unknown or wanting to have a grab and go bag as I’m running in and out of the store,” he said.

“But consumer bags on onions really just exploded for us for about three months, and they are still up this year, compared with last year.”

Now the increase in consumer bag demand year-over-year is about low double digits, he said.

One fruit category that suffered in demand during COVID-19 was honeydew, and watermelon to some degree. Melons are often used in salad bars, and salad bars were limited by COVID-19 precautions.

“We did see a little bit of a drop there, but other than that, the staples continue to remain strong; potatoes, onions, cabbage, beets, your hardware items,” he said.

Mexican outlook

The Rio Grande Valley has seen amazing growth as Mexico infrastructure has allowed Texas as an additional port of entry option to Nogales, Wilkins said.

Closer to the East Coast, central Mexico gives the firm more a year-round option for many items, he said.

“This upcoming season Grow Farms Texas will be ramping up its Mexico winter menu,” he said.

The company will have good supplys of cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapeños, serranos, anaheims and poblanos, he said.

Cucumbers started the first week of November, Wilkins said, and bell pepper will begin by mid-December. Hot peppers are available year-round from Mexico.

The hot pepper menu has provided big growth, Wilkins said.

“Our focus will continue to be growing our cucumber and bell pepper program,” he said.

“We remain optimistic about the upcoming season primarily because of our quality from our growers, and the belief that increase consumption of fruits and vegetables is good medicine.”

Wilkins said Texas operators will advocate for commonsense free trade and against efforts to impose new seasonal protections for Southeast U.S. growers.

“The American consumer needs Mexico,” he said.

“I just hate to see tariffs and things that would add to the cost of healthy fruits and vegetables.”

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Texas citrus industry steps up HLB fight

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:49:11 GMT

Texas citrus growers and researchers are taking action to avoid and prevent the spread of huanglongbing.

“Texas is dealing with HLB much like our counterparts in Florida and California,” said Dale Murden, grower and president of Texas Citrus Mutual, Mission.

“Early on we learned many things from Florida, such as the need for optimum root and tree health and psyllid control.”

“Texas has been very proactive in its treatment of the HLB vector, so to date, we have suffered very little greening,” said April Flowers, marketing director of Lone Star Citrus Growers.

Dennis Holbrook, owner of Mission-based South Tex Organics, said the key to managing the spread of HLB is to control the Asian citrus psyllid.

“HLB is around, but it’s not exploding in any particular area,” Holbrook said. “We are managing as best we can at this point.”

In 2015, the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corp. was formed, Murden said.

“This entity allowed for a grower assessment and strategic planning by growers and managed by growers on how and where to best defend against the onslaught of many pest and disease issues, but primarily on the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB,” he said.

“For nearly 10 years now, local citrus growers have taken very aggressive steps and employed various mitigation methods all year long to prevent the spread of HLB,” said Dante Galeazzi, CEO and president of Texas International Produce Association, Mission.

“There’s a lot of research happening specific to this issue, and there’s several promising projects that the industry will be watching closely.”

Growers are using various methods of HLB management.

“Our field consultants are in the groves every week to 10 days looking at populations,” Holbrook said.

“The Texas Pest and Disease Management Corpo. also has scouts who are monitoring populations and helping growers see when their populations are growing and when treatments need scheduled.”

Lone Star Citrus Growers constantly tests tees, Flowers said. When diseased trees are found, they are pulled up along with surrounding trees and replaced with trees from the company’s greenhouse nursery stock.

Attract-and-kill psyllid traps are in development and showing promise, and because psyllids do not like light, reflective ground covers and natural, reflective kaolin clay seem to be helping, she said.

“The ‘dormant’ spray program, developed by our Texas A&M University Kingsville Citrus Center scientists, was deployed over the entire commercial growing region in Texas,” Murden said.

“This area wide approach has helped in keeping the ACP populations low and very key times in our growing season thus preventing further spread and decline.”

Growers hope for a cure or resistant varieties to come along, he said. There has been promising research, but trials are slow for perennial crops.
Early detection devices have been improved and could help California growers, he added.

“My counterparts at the Florida and California Citrus Mutual have banded together and we spend countless hours in Washington, with both the USDA and legislators, to ensure that both researchers and funding is available in our fight to save commercial citrus in the U.S.,” Murden said.

“I think one thing that actually gives me hope is that scientists have begun to cross state lines, so to speak, and are working together to solve this problem.”

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Drought dings Chile fruit exports

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:33:30 GMT

Chile 2019-20 deciduous fruit exports will dip modestly because of a drought and a decline in planted area, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The annual fruit report , released in November, predicts that total Chilean table grape exports in 2019-20 will fall 3%, with apple exports down 7% and pear exports off 10%.

Grape changes

Chile’s table grape planted area in marketing 2019-20 is projected unchanged at about 118,000 acres, according to the report. The USDA said table grape production will drop due to droughts throughout the country and will have a pronounced effect in the central Chile regions of Valparaiso, Metropolitana, and O’Higgins. On the other hand, the report said the northern regions of Atacama and Coquimbo have enough water reserves.

The USDA said traditional table grape varieties, including crimson seedless and thompson seedless, are declining in volume. Newer varieties, such as arra-15, timco, and sweet celebration continue to increase in production, the report said. Chile’s 2019-20 grape output is estimated at 805,000 metric tons, down 3% from last season.

Exports of table grapes will fall again in 2019-20 after an off year in 2018-19. Last season, the report said Chile’s table grape exports decreased by 10.5% in volume and 12% in value compared with 2017-18, totaling 654,479 metric tons and $953 million. Table grape exports to the U.S. and China fell by 10% while exports to South Korea grew by 27.7% last season. Even with the decline last year, the U.S. took 45% of Chile’s total exports in 201-8-19, with 295,149 metric tons shipped to the U.S.

Competition from Peru early in the season has pulled Chilean grape prices down and created a greater emphasis for late-season exports, according to the report.

The USDA projects Chilean grape exports to China will grow as exporters focus their promotion funds and marketing efforts in reaching that market. Chile’s total grape exports for 2019-20 are projected at 640,000 metric tons, down from 660,000 metric tons in 2018-19.

Apples now and then

Chile’s apple acreage in the upcoming season is projected at near 80,000 acres, 6% lower than 2018-19. Increased competition from Peru and low prices for traditional varieties contributed to the acreage decline, according to the USDA.

Last season, Chile’s total fresh apple exports decreased by 10% in volume and 8.4% in value compared with the 2017-18 season, with totals of 618,324 metric tons in volume and $557 million in value.

2018-19 exports of Chilean apples were diversified to customers in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Far East, but the U.S. was rated as the top buyer of Chilean apples.

For the upcoming season, the USDA estimates that apple exports to China, Taiwan, India, and Vietnam are expected to increase. Total Chilean apple exports for 2019-20 are projected at 656,500 metric tons, off 7% from 705,000 metric tons last season.

Pears sliced

Chilean pear acreage now is estimated at nearly 18,000 acres, about 11.5% lower compared with 2018-19. Last season, the USDA said Chile’s pear exports increased by 1.4% in volume and 0.3% in value over 2017-18, reaching 123,914 metric tons and $117.2 million.

Top Chilean export markets for pears include Russia, Colombia, the Netherlands and Italy, according to the report.

Chilean pears also were exported to China starting in April with the opening of that market. For 2019-20, the USDA projects total Chilean pear exports at 117,000 metric tons, 10% lower compared with 130,000 metric tons in 2018-19.

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Tomato agreement, drought questions linger for Mexican suppliers

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:49:11 GMT

A drought in northern Mexico could limit some produce output and crossings into Texas this winter.

“The limitations on irrigation water are certainly going to affect some production figures out there,” said Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association.

The lack of rain and limited irrigation water in Mexico’s state of Tamaulipas could limit the sizes of limes and other citrus crossing from Mexico. The growing region also sends onions to the U.S. in January and February.

Despite the drought, favorable weather in the fall in Mexican growing areas has helped the quality of produce, Galeazzi said.

Mexico’s greenhouse vegetables crossing into the U.S. in the winter primarily come from the west coast of Mexico.

“The early indicators are showing quality is really good on the product coming out of there and it is sounds like the market is going to be good for them,” he said.

The effect of the tomato suspension agreement on shifts in vegetable acreage is not yet known.

“I think it’s going to be a wait and see factor,” Galeazzi said. “I do think we will see fewer tomatoes in the marketplace,” he said, speculating there could be a switch to more eggplants, bell peppers or specialty tomatoes.

“I think it’s really going to be over the course of the next six to 12 months that we will see how the new suspension agreement has impacted the industry.”

The suspension agreement will require inspections of tomatoes in March, and that has some distributors concerned about delays at the border.

Galeazzi said the Texas International Produce Association has been working very closely with USDA to make sure the agency has enough resources in place when mandatory inspections begin.

“It is going to be a learning curve for the industry though, and there is going to need to be some processes put in place at warehouses to be able to set up for the inspectors to come in conduct the inspections,” he said.

Warehouses will also need processes in place to put trucks on standby until the inspectors there are able to go through tomatoes.

Tomato inspections are expected to begin about March 19, said Jaime García, general manager for Donna, Texas-based Kingdom Fresh Farms.

“I believe it will be a problem at some some warehouses because they might not have space, but we are managing to do some changes here internally to help us take care of (that need),” he said.

Garcia anticipates there may be times when delays caused by inspections hurt the whole supply chain, and those delays could affect other commodities as well.

“It is not going to make things easier,” he said, noting possible delays for Mexican grapes next year.

Ontario’s greenhouse growers ready for big season

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:36:34 GMT

Greenhouse growers in Ontario are gearing up for what they hope will be another stellar season, said Joe Sbrocchi, general manager of the Leamington-based Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association .

Some operators with heated, well-lit facilities produce nearly year-round, but others will start picking in late winter, “while the snow is flying,” Sbrocchi said.

Cucumbers are the first crop to come off, probably the second or third week of February. Tomatoes will follow in mid-March, and bell peppers will get underway by the end of March.

Weather has been relatively mild, grower-shippers say.

Mastronardi Produce Ltd. , Kingsville, Ontario, should have an “excellent” crop this year, but that’s not really a function of the weather, said Julia Shreve, director of marketing for brand and innovation.

“The quality of our crops is really more a function of how we manage them versus a factor of the weather,” she said.

Even with the warm weather, there never is enough sunlight at this time of year, Shreve said.

“We are grateful for our extensive network of high-tech lit acres,” she said.

The company, which markets the Sunset brand, has expanded its acreage for specialty tomatoes as demand continues to increase for those items, she said, and there’s “lots of potential for continued growth.”

A new crop of more than 265,000 plants was delivered to Pure Hot House Foods Inc . in Leamington in early January, said Chris Veillon, chief marketing officer.

The company started picking its first crop of long English cucumbers in early February.

“Pure Flavor continues to expand its family of growers across all regions each season to ensure a consistent supply,” Veillon said.

And the company’s product offerings continue to increase season over season to meet surging retail and foodservice demand, he added.

The Pure Flavor brand includes several kinds of conventional and organic tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

The company even offers purple baby eggplant, he said.

When crops are grown in a protected culture, Veillon said, “We can control 100% of the growing process to ensure the plants produce a consistent product, regardless of the season.”

AMCO Produce , Leamington, expects a good crop of beefsteak tomatoes, seedless cucumbers and bell peppers as the season gets underway, said Paul Arrowsmith, sales manager.

“We grow tomatoes-on-the-vine and seedless cucumbers all year round under lights,” he added.

The 35-year-old company has more than 100 acres of greenhouse product.

Arrowsmith said U.S. consumers seem to recognize the quality of Canadian-grown greenhouse products.

Volume at AMCO is expected to be up 10% to 15% this year.

“We’re growing,” Arrowsmith said.

Red Sun Farms in Kingsville has announced its newest venture between Jim DiMenna, president of Red Sun Farms, and Jeremy Capussi, acting managing director/operations coordinator and development for JC Fresh: Red Sun Farms Ontario LP.

“The new company will be constructing its first 27 acres of high-tech greenhouses in Kingsville,” said Leona Neill, director of marketing and packaging for Red Sun Farms.

“This is an exciting time at Red Sun Farms as we embark upon this new partnership to meet the growing demands of our customers for quality, flavor and year-round availability,” DiMenna said.

Red Sun Farms is the largest vertically integrated North American greenhouse grower, Neill said.

Ontario has approximately 3,000 acres of greenhouses about equally divided among tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers, Sbrocchi said.

He expects to see an additional 350 acres or so within the next couple of years.

When the additional acreage will come into play is difficult to predict because the availability of work crews and materials used to build greenhouses has tightened since Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, he said.

Expansion of some vegetable greenhouses has been put on hold until builders can catch up.

One builder told a prospective customer that it could be four or five years before he could begin work on a new greenhouse, Sbrocchi said.

The greenhouse vegetable industry expected a 9% growth rate last year, he said, but that figure ended up at less than 2%.

“Nobody really knows where cannabis is going,” Sbrocchi said, but he doesn’t anticipate a drop in vegetable production.

“The demand is there. There’s more growth needed,” he said. “Protected agriculture is the farming of the future.”

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AMCO Produce seeks new distributors

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:49:03 GMT

AMCO Produce , Leamington, Ontario, is “aggressively seeking new distributors, wholesalers and retailers in the U.S.,” said Paul Arrowsmith, sales manager.

AMCO is open to spot buying or contracts, he said, and has a large purchasing budget, since the company buys as well as grows greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers.

Products like beefsteak tomatoes and bell peppers are grown seasonally.

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Good greenhouse season on tap

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:36:29 GMT

This article appeared in The Packer’s March 30 issue in the Greenhouse Vegetables shipping profile and might not reflect current market conditions.

If consumers are putting renewed emphasis on nutritious eating during this trying time, greenhouse grower-shippers are willing and able to help.

Many hothouses have increased their volume as the spring/summer season gets underway, and all say they anticipate an extensive selection of high-quality vegetables.

“We have had a good winter season to date shipping all products from our family of growers,” said Chris Veillon, chief marketing officer for Pure Hothouse Foods Inc., Leamington, Ontario.

“With what is happening regarding COVID-19, the demand for greenhouse-grown vegetables is increasing steadily, week over week,” he said.

The company’s Pure Flavor brand has seen a spike in its social media traffic as well as in visits to its website from consumers looking for product and recipe information, he said.

The firm’s growers, located throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, offer a wide range of products, consisting of dozens of organic and conventional tomatoes; several kinds of organic and conventional cucumbers and peppers, including new Craft House shishito peppers; and purple baby eggplants.

The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, British Columbia, still was sourcing some product out of Mexico in late March, but already had kicked off its British Columbia season, said Aaron Quon, director of greenhouse.

The company anticipates 20% more volume this year than last year.

Oppy’s British Columbia program started in February with cucumbers and began shipping new crop red, yellow and orange bell peppers in late March.

The company expanded its bell pepper deal last year, so there will be more production this season, he said.

Oppy also expanded its offerings of long English cucumbers from British Columbia.

“New and exciting this year” is a small area of mini sweet peppers planted in British Columbia, Quon said.

Organic cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers also will be available.

Quality out of British Columbia has been excellent so far, Quon said in late March.

“The plants are looking really good,” he said. “The fruit sets are really strong.”

The company’s organic and conventional bell peppers and mini sweet peppers out of Culiacan, Mexico, will be winding down by the end of May.

Like other greenhouse growers, Oppy is “seeing an increased level of demand” because of COVID-19, Quon said.

“We’re excited to get our crops going here because we’re getting a lot of requests for product,” he said.

Houweling’s Group, Camarillo, Calif., will have excellent greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers by the end of March from several locations and will have peppers ramping up in British Columbia in April, said David Bell, chief marketing officer.

The company’s product line includes premium grape tomatoes, premium cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine, cocktail tomatoes and tomatoes-on-the-vine.

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Vidalia growers expect ample, promotable supplies

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:55 GMT

Rain overstayed its welcome a bit, but not long enough to overshadow the mild, warm weather that favored the coming 2020 Vidalia onion crop of southern Georgia.

“This has been more of an inconvenience than a hindrance to production,” said Cliff Riner, crop production manager at G&R Farms, Glennville, Ga.

“So far, our sizing is expected to be great, even better than last year.”

Every year the Georgia Department of Agriculture sets an official start date for the season after hearing from a 13-member advisory panel of the Vidalia Onion Committee of growers. This year’s start date is April 16.

In the same way that Champagne has to come from the certified Champagne region of France in order to call itself Champagne, so too are Vidalia onions protected by the Georgia Department of

Agriculture under Marketing Order No. 955, with certified growers in only 20 counties.

Not even sweet onions coming from that Vidalia region before the official start date can be called Vidalia onions.

“We have a longstanding history and integrity of this onion being protected by Department of Agriculture,” said Lauren Dees, sales and marking manager of Generation Farms, Vidalia, Ga.

The farm offers year-round sweet onions, conventional and organic, including the trademarked Vidalia during its season from mid- to late April through summer.

“People know it by name and look forward to it each season, and the shortened availability makes it even more desirable,” Dees said.

Unlike other onions, Vidalia’s have a flat-round shape. Sold at retailers under the PLU code of 4159, Vidalia onions are grown from a yellow granex seed variety, which is tested for a minimum of three years to ensure it remains one of the world’s mildest, sweetest onions with good shelf life, according to the committee.

Many growers say it’s been a good growing season so far.

“We’re excited by this season and it looks good,” Dees continued, “as long as the weather continues to do what it’s historically done. But these last few weeks are crucial.”

At 9,373 acres, the 2020 crop is similar to 2019 crop acreage, which was about 2,000 acres down from 2018, said Bob Stafford, committee manager.

But because farmers are so squeezed by ever-rising costs, they’ve been scrambling to plant high-density fields to maintain the same crop volume.

“We’re growing more onions on less acreage. Last year, we cut back 2,000 acres and we grew the same amount of onions,” Stafford said. “For a farmer to stay in business, you have to get better tonnage per acre.”

Growers and their farmworkers are cultivating 80,000 to 110,000 onion plants per acre by hand to maintain the 5 million to 7 million 40-pound equivalents every year that the customer base demands.

The juicier, softer texture of Vidalias necessitate hand cultivating, although a couple of growers are trying mechanical harvesting.

“The sweeter an onion is, the more brittle it is. You have to be careful about bruising. They’re not as hard as other onions,” Stafford said.

Stafford said he expects a strong, normal crop with “ample, promotable supply this season; last year, we had the best harvest season in many years. Hopefully we’ll do the same.”

In 2019, the Vidalia onion industry produced 5.3 million 40-pound equivalents of the 2-pound bags, 5-pound bags and loose 40-pound boxes, he said.

There’s a six to eight-week harvest period for fresh onions, and then about half the crop, or 3 million to 3.5 million bushels, is available from cold storage or controlled atmosphere storage through summer.

At the University of Georgia researchers are keeping about 40 varieties while doing continuously doing trials.

“We just added two new varieties this year, and we’re getting a longer shelf life while still maintaining that sweet flavor,” Stafford said.

Potandon Produce, Idaho Falls, Idaho, redoubled its efforts to offer sweet onions year-round, sourcing from Texas, California, Peru and other locations when it’s not Vidalia season.

The rains didn’t hurt Potandon’s Vidalia growers, said Dick Thomas, senior vice president of sales, and Joey Dutton, key accounts and onion sales manager.

“We were able to get in early, so we’ll probably have a good season as far as volume and quality, unless there’s a hailstorm or cold snap from now to then,” Dutton said March 13.

“Barring the unexpected, it should be a good harvest.”

Potandon offers all its onions in bags and boxes touting the Green Giant brand.

“It provides our retailers a point of difference from their competition. They’re carrying a nationally recognized brand consumers trust,” Thomas said.

Stafford said that growers sell every Vidalia onion they harvest. Troy Bland, chief operating officer of Bland Farms, Glennville, Ga., went even further.

“Later on, this spring and summer, it could be a situation where demand is greater than supply,” Bland said.

PROMOTIONS

Although the Vidalia Onion Committee promotes its trademarked product all year, the peak window starts “when people start waking up in the Northeast. These folks are still asleep right now. When they start going out and grilling, that’s when our sales pick up,” Stafford said.

“The Sweet Life” slogan returns this year, and one of the committee’s biggest promotions ever, backed by a lot of money and time, is coming soon.

“We’re trying to reach the consumer now. We want chefs to put the Vidalia onion on their menu, and we want them to call it Vidalia, not sweet onion,” Stafford said.

Bland Farms is partnering with Paramount Pictures and “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” for point-of-sale merchandising displays, themed package designs, national press and advertising campaigns, social media support and tear pads featuring SpongeBob and Krabby Patty-inspired recipes.

There will be a national retailer display contest with $10,000 in prizes and a consumer sweepstakes with prizes including a trip to Paramount Pictures for a family of four. There will also be a scavenger hunt as part of the Sponge Bob partnership.

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Central New York greenhouse becomes coronavirus hotspot

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:12 GMT

At least 125 employees of Green Empire Farms, Oneida, N.Y., have been confirmed with the new coronavirus, COVID-19, prompting Gov. Andrew Cuomo and health officials to reinforce the need for social distancing and other measures.

The Madison County greenhouse grows 64 acres tomatoes and strawberries and is owned by Mastronardi Produce Ltd., Kingsville, Ontario, said a Green Empire Farms spokesperson, who did not want to be named.

According to the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence the coronavirus is transmitted through food .

On April 30, the Madison County Health Department learned on a hospital conference call that a couple greenhouse workers, who have lived in close quarters in hotels for months, had coronavirus-type symptoms, said Samantha Field, health department spokesperson.

The department, along with state officials, set up a testing site May 2, and results came out a few days later. More employees were tested May 5. The greenhouse has more than 300 employees. Oneida County officials also conducted tests because some of the workers live in that county.

Each worker tested is quarantined while the health department completes a contact investigation, and any worker who tests positive is isolated, Field said. No deaths have been reported among the company’s employees.

“A lot of the people we tested hadn’t had any symptoms,” Field said. “It drives home the point, you don’t know who has it. That’s why you need to stay home as much as you can, and wear face covering.”

The farm has worked closely with the health department, following all CDC recommendations and guidelines since March, when Cuomo deemed food production an essential business exempt from his stay-at-home orders.

Green Empire Farms has conducted daily temperature checks and health screenings, enforced mandatory face coverings on site and provided face shields and resources to clean those shields, the farm spokesperson and Field said. Cleaning and sanitation increased and several social distancing measures began then as well.

The greenhouse is so “massive” that people can work in a row of vegetables without seeing another person more than a mile away, Field said.

“Socially distancing isn’t too hard there,” Field said. “We believe a lot of them got sick in closer quarters where they are living. The employer can only control what you do in the workplace, not at home. We’re all going stir crazy; we understand.”

Statewide, there were about 600 new confirmed cases a day, down from about 1,000 a day the previous week, Cuomo said in his May 6 COVID-19 press conference , which he conducts daily.

“What is happening in these hotspot clusters that you see popping up?” Cuomo said, referring to meat and poultry processing plants nationwide, as well as the latest hotspot in Madison and Oneida counties.

“It’s not really about meat or vegetables…It is about worker density and large gatherings,” Cuomo said. “That’s the caution flag here. That’s the message. It’s not about poultry. It’s not about meat. It’s not about vegetables.”

Some of the greenhouse workers are recovering already, Field said.

“Our death count in the county is very low, and we’d like to keep it that way,” she said. There have been six deaths attributed to the coronavirus in the county.

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