Search - The Packer

Versatility is a retail promotional bonanza for Florida avocados, suppliers say. Retailers are best-served by providing shoppers with usage ideas and choices, they said.

Miami-based J&C Tropicals has upgraded its packing process, said Jessie Capote, executive vice president and co-owner.

Unity Groves Corp. has expanded its acreage and looked to improve groves by “grafting better varieties,” said Louie Carricarte, president and owner.

Rough tropical weather in 2017 and its fallout in 2018 are now history, and Florida avocado grower-shippers say they are eager to get back to business as usual this year.

Chilean clementines are on the water and Chile’s summer citrus season has begun.

Seeking an 11th-hour deal that would preserve a revised tomato suspension agreement with the Commerce Department, Mexican tomato growers have submitted a proposal.

Florida’s 2019-20 strawberry deal got off to a slow start just before Thanksgiving, but grower-shippers said volume gradually was picking up, and supplies should be plentiful by the first of the year.

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has recognized standout fruit and vegetable varieties introduced this year.

The new Florida brilliance strawberry variety, which debuted last season, has proven to be a winner.

Hess Bros. Fruit Co., Lancaster, Pa., hosted a roundtable discussion with Pennsylvania agriculture officials, charities and food companies to discuss how to get crops that farmers can’t use to families in the area.