The Packer
Dominated by Mexican fruit, total U.S. imports of avocados rose 6.4% in 2019 to more than 1.1 million metric tons.
Retailers can find promotional material for Cinco de Mayo from both Avocados From Mexico and the California Avocado Commission.
The West Coast Produce Expo and the Sustainable Produce Summit, presented by The Packer and Farm Journal, are being postponed until August due to concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19.
The Produce for Better Health Foundation has canceled its April 13-15 Consumer Connection Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., because of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
Bobalu Berries, Oxnard, Calif., has hired Jewell Marketing to build the company’s brand.
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, is postponing the 61st annual Broccoli Rabe Feed because of concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19.
Consumers who want a strong immune system are looking to fresh produce.
The National Mango Board is offering new display bins and headers to retailers.
California summer fruit grower-shippers traditionally credit weather with having a say in what kind of season they’ll have.
Companies are reacting in their own ways to the pandemic, from organizing donations of food and money, an attention to worker safety and a little levity to brighten employees’ days.
John Beaulieu has joined Meridian Growers, Madera, Calif., to manage processing of tree nuts.
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.
An updated nutrition book for citrus growers is available from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
The Produce Marketing Association has cancelled its annual foodservice show in its traditional format, moving to PMA Foodservice: Delivered, a digital event.
Sales of fresh limes seem to be trending upward. At Delano, Calif.-based Wonderful Citrus, Elena Rhodes, director of product management, said in mid-April that sales were up 13% year over year.
The COVID-19 pandemic played a role in reduced first-quarter earnings for Coral Gables, Fla.-based Fresh Del Monte Produce.
There are fewer ships with containers arriving into the Port of Oakland, and that could mean fruit, nut and meat exports leaving the ports could be affected.
Dulcinea brand citrus feature new high-graphic packaging, with different colors to differentiate oranges and mandarins.
USDA has issued actions against Evergreen Fresh Farms Inc., New York Produce Inc., and P.K. Produce, Inc. CTI Logistics LLC, GOLDEN BASIL FARM LLC, and Joe Heger Farms LLC are new companies to the Market, plus more.
Lower pricing in the first quarter more than offset higher volume in transportation services for C.H. Robinson Worldwide.
Milwaukie, Ore.-based Pear Bureau Northwest has been using its communications to direct consumers to shoppable recipes along with ripening and storage tips.
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, Northwest cherry growers are optimistic about export opportunities this season.
USDA has announced actions on Hunter Brothers Inc. and Old West Export Inc. Morton Williams and Phenix MV Inc. are new companies to the Market. Country Creek Produce Farm LLC, Lucas Farms and others have updates.
Democratic lawmakers, Farmworker Justice and the Environmental Working Group are pushing for new federal protections for farm and food workers in the next coronavirus stimulus legislation.
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.
Checking in on top-of-mind issues for Idaho potato growers, The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 30 with Shawn Boyle, president and general counsel for the Idaho Grower Shippers Association.
The United Fresh Produce Association has named the recipients of its Produce in Excellence Foodservice Awards.
AgroFresh, whose SmartFresh technology extends the shelf life of produce, has added more items available for treatment, including avocados, tomatoes, broccoli and mangoes.
What is the annual consumer “spend” on fresh produce? That number, organized by age, income, education level, race, and more is available from the Consumer Expenditures data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.