Produce Crops
The California Fresh Fruit Association, Fresno, has postponed its 84th annual meeting to November because of the increase in coronavirus COVID-19 cases.
Village Farms International Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, is ramping up supplies of greenhouse tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers for the season.
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, is postponing the 61st annual Broccoli Rabe Feed because of concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19.
Heavy rains and hail storms during Vidalia growing season, plus typical spring harvest rains, have cut a chunk out of the season’s yield, but harvesting hasn’t been delayed more than usual.
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, Northwest cherry growers are optimistic about export opportunities this season.
Strella Biotechnology, a Philadelphia company that uses biosensors to maximize freshness of fresh produce throughout the supply chain, has received $3.3 million in seed funding.
Hazel Technologies Inc., Chicago, has seen positive results in trials with its shelf-life extension product on apples.
The Florida agriculture department has added an interactive map and other updates to its website that links growers to consumers during the pandemic.
Jacobs, Malcomb & Burtt (JMB), San Ramon, Calif., has a new website as it prepares for the start of its summer asparagus program.
The Oppenheimer Group is adding a third grower to expand cherry offerings this season.
Reviving an idea that promoted Florida produce following a natural disaster, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has a new “buy local” program, SWFL Fresh.
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher, and state and local officials, visited Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm this week to highlight National Blueberry Month.
California’s Citrus & Pest Disease Prevention Committee, a grower-funded initiative, has endorsed a set of best practices for growers in response to the threat of huanglongbing (HLB).
The Packer’s Northeast editor, Amy Sowder, conducted a mid-summer tour of Quebec’s vegetable agricultural regions north and south of Montreal.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has found three Oriental fruit flies in south Miami-Dade County.
Northwest pear growers estimate they’ll produce 18.9 million standard box equivalents, which at 415,000 tons for the fresh market is an 18% increase from the small 2017 harvest, but equal to the five-year average.
Trade tension intensified this week as the U.S. attempted to pressure China into ceasing what President Donald Trump describes as unfair trade practices, including the theft of intellectual property and technology.
Sweet potato grower-shipper Southern Produce Distributors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with plans to restructure and continue business.
A group that has been critical of Trump administration tariffs, and counter-tariffs from China on U.S. exports, is sponsoring an event looking at how they affect California exports.
VANCOUVER — Murray Driediger, president and CEO of BC Fresh, is The Packer’s Canadian Produce Person of the Year.
California citrus growers have fared relatively well this season despite lower volumes.
California table grape production is seeing a “new normal” of 100 million-plus box crops, according to the California Table Grape Commission.
Despite widespread damage to the crop as reported by a survey of Florida blueberry growers, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association is predicting a good season for the fruit.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, acting on requests from cranberry growers, is placing controls on the 2017-18 crop to help bring supplies in line with demand.
Syngenta has acquired vegetable seed breeder, producer and marketer Feasterville, Pa.-based Abbott & Cobb, known for its sweet corn.
Mastronardi Produce is opening a sixth greenhouse in the U.S., with a 20-acre facility in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
CHICAGO — The produce industry needs to play catch up with innovation and advancing technology, David Krause believes.
Urban Picnik salad meals, now available at retailers in Quebec where the company is based, is branching out across Canada, with distribution to grocery and convenience stores – and an eye on U.S. expansion.
Naturipe Farms is seeing peak supplies of strawberries from California.
Alex Ott is leaving the California Apple Commission and other commodity boards to become the full-time executive director of the American Pecan Council.