Beans

Born Farms Founder Shares the Benefits of Macrotunnels

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:55:39 GMT

Earlier this year, Unispice’s Born Farms added macrotunnels to its green and French bean farms to better protect the crops from devastating weather and pests.

Christopher Safieh, founder of Born Farms, says green and French beans are susceptible to heat, rain, diseases and pests, so about two years ago the company started to design this custom solution, from the mesh used in the tunnels to the hoops.

“We designed the mesh so that the light that went through the mesh was perfect for the beans but was not enough to let weeds grow,” he says. “We’re basically using no herbicides within the tunnels, but the light wave is perfect for the beans.”

Safieh says this results in a straight growing bean thanks to the light distribution through the mesh.

He says these macrotunnels help provide a consistent crop throughout the rainy season in Guatemala, which can run from May to September. Beans quickly develop fungal issues when underwater for more than three hours.

“And what it allowed us to do also is also extend the season in certain farms because we have farms in different altitudes and climates throughout Guatemala, and we use them only for a specific season,” Safieh says. “Because you’re shielding it against a lot of external stuff, we’re able to extend the season in a lot of our farms. We’re able to grow not only year-round but do it extremely consistently even through the rainy season, which is traditionally one of the toughest seasons for Guatemala.”

And this predictability, Safieh says, is one of the hardest factors to control, but using Unispice’s Cerebro, an AI predictive modeling platform, the company designed grids for improved drainage of the nearly 400 hectares under tunnels to handle large storms capable of dumping large amounts of water in a short amount of time.

“We ran simulations of water and designed a farm to be able to take that amount of water,” he says. “So, what ended up happening is that instead of having between 98% and 100% loss, which is what other farms had, we had between 7% and 2%, which is very manageable compared to 100%.”

Safieh also says the macrotunnels coupled with Cerebro and Unispice’s packaging technology help extend shelf life and thus better predictability throughout the supply chain.

“If you make that first step predictable, we can guarantee predictability throughout the chain,” he adds. “So, when we’re building our program with our retailers or our food service companies, we can give them a lot more predictability when it comes to their supply. So, it makes it very stable. The reason why you get a lot of swings in prices is because of lack of predictability.”

Safieh says Born Farms also uses its technologies to deliver appropriate volumes of beans during peak parts of the season — the week of Thanksgiving.

“We grow between three and five times what we grow on a usual week, specifically for the week of Thanksgiving,” he says. “If you have it a week before, it’s useless. If you have it a week after, it’s like having Christmas trees in January.”

Guatemala’s specialty exports to U.S. on the rise

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:50 GMT

Guatemala’s exports of specialty vegetables and fruits to the U.S. have been steadily rising over the past two decades.

According to figures cited by the Guatemala Produce Trade Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported fresh and frozen fruit imports from Guatemala have increased 18% from 2014-18, to 5.8 billion pounds. Fresh vegetables in that category have remained steady, at an average of 147 million pounds a year, according to the USDA.

Imports include French beans, sugar snap peas, snow peas, blackberries, baby vegetables, rambutans, papayas and plantains.

“We can offer year-round because Guatemala offers attractive growing conditions throughout the year,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties Inc. , Pompano Beach, Fla., said in the release. Additionally, its proximity to South Florida enables us to move product quickly and manage the cold chain efficiently.”

Katiana Valdes, marketing director at Crystal Valley Foods , Miami, said Guatemala’s infrastructure has been improving rapidly.
“Our growing partners all maintain rigid quality and food safety programs,” Valdes said in the release. “It’s with this focus on quality and food safety, the variety of production areas, and continuous advances in agriculture techniques that Guatemala’s specialty exports have been able to expand.”

Related stories:

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North Bay Produce partners with Guatemalan grower

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:32 GMT

Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce Inc. has partnered with Guatemalan farm to bring imports of French green beans , snow peas, sugar snap peas, and Brussels sprouts to North American customers.

The Guatemalan operation, called UniSpice, specializes in planned growing cycles, according to the release. The controlled farm only plants orders to customer specifications as a group, which the release said is an approach that ensures consistency. The high altitude and cooler nights of the farm, located in the highlands of Guatemala, give crops higher brix for a sweeter taste, according to the release.

North Bay Produce imports the Guatemalan farm’s produce directly to the firm’s MidAmerica Warehouse in Mascoutah, Ill., according to the release. The facility is located in a place where it can reach 90% of the U.S. population within 18 hours or less by truck. The facility, according to the release, also is one of twelve USDA certified cold treatment Facilities in the U.S., and one of two adjacent to an airport runway.

A & A Organic adds imported French beans

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:55 GMT

A & A Organic Farms , Watsonville, Calif., has added organic French beans from Guatemala to its list of items.

The beans are shipped to Los Angeles, in vacuum-sealed 12-ounce bags, 10 to a carton, and bulk packages

“The new Le Petit packaging looks great,” Andy Martin, president, said in the release. “Even with COVID disruptions, we are seeing an increase in demand for bagged products like this.”

A & A Organic will carry French beans year-round with steady supplies, according to the release. The first shipment arrived July 7.

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Western Costcos to promote Equitable Food Initiative produce

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:59 GMT

The Equitable Food Initiative is partnering with Costco Wholesale in California, Oregon and Washington to boost consumer awareness and sales of EFI-certified fruits and vegetables.

EFI’s Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured, highlights the group’s mission for improved working conditions, pest management and food safety.

The promotion, which lasts through July 5, includes outreach to online influencers, bloggers and editors, along with an online consumer contest encouraging Costco customers to post photos of EFI-labeled produce with #GrowtheGood. Information on the sweepstakes is at https://equitablefood.org/sweeps/ .

“From the beginning, Costco has been a strong partner for EFI, supporting safer and healthier workplaces for farmworkers, which is why we’re excited to educate shoppers on the meaning behind the EFI label and Costco’s commitment to worker and food safety,” LeAnne Ruzzamenti, director of marketing and communications for EFI, said in the release. “To further this important message, EFI will donate sun protection equipment to field workers for purchases made during the promotion.”

EFI growers participating in the promotion include:

Alpine Fresh — French beans ;
Andrew & Williamson/GoodFarms — strawberries ;
Houweling’s Tomatoes — tomatoes and cucumbers ;
Keystone Fruit Marketing — Walla Walla onions ; and
Windset Farms — tomatoes and cucumbers.

Sharon Palmer, whose The Plant-Powered Dietitian blog has more than 170,000 members, will have a Facebook Live segment at 6 p.m. Pacific June 27 at the Marina del Rey, Calif., Costco, interviewing growers and showcasing products.

Costco, a founding member of the EFI, has paid more than $6.5 million in bonuses to farmworkers through the program, according to the release.

“What’s good for farmworkers provides benefits to the entire supply chain, which is why we support the EFI program,” Jeff Lyons, senior vice president for fresh foods at Costco Wholesale, said in the release. “Improving conditions in the field and fully engaging farmworkers in the ways that EFI does helps to deliver a safer and better product for our members.”

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Misionero rebrands fresh-cut Green Wave Farms brand

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:59 GMT

Organic grower-shipper Misionero Vegetables , Gonzales, Calif., is rebranding Green Wave Farms, its fresh-cut vegetable line.

The new label freshens the look of the package, and creates a “familiar, cohesive, identity among the Misionero brand and product lines,” according to a news release. The bold and vibrant colors will be distinct for each product and are designed to grab shoppers’ attention and increase brand recognition.

“Misionero is constantly incorporating creative energy into our brands,” Nicole Zapata, marketing manager of Green Wave Farms, said in the release. “This rebrand will better align itself with Misionero and offer packaging that customers and consumers can quickly recognize.”

New microwaveable sauté kits for Brussels sprouts and green beans feature easy prep instructions, according to the release. They contain four ingredients each and simple cooking steps, with just a few minutes to prepare and serve, according to the release.

The rebranded packaging and new logo will debut at the Organic Produce Summit, July 10-11 in Monterey, Calif.

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Growers Express expands recall

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:43 GMT

Growers Express , Salinas, Calif., has expanded a recall of vegetables after product testing resulted in another positive sample of Listeria monocytogenes.

The company’s initial recall was on July 1; it posted an updated recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website on July 15. There have been no illnesses reported in connection with the recall.

“After further testing of an additional product lot from the suspected source of the recall, a single retail sample was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes,” according to the notice.

The products came from a Growers Express in Biddeford, Maine, and were distributed in Maine and Massachusetts.

The new products are for 2-pound bags of Green Giant Fresh Brussels sprouts at Big Y Foods in Massachusetts, 3-pound bags of Growers Express brand cauliflower florets for foodservice at Native Maine in Maine, and 5-pound bags of green beans and 3-pound bags of cauliflower florets (Peak brand) distributed by Ruby Robinson Co. to foodservice accounts in Maine.

The products were packed on June 25 and June 28; the Native Maine cauliflower florets have a best by date of July 11.

The initial recall included Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles “Fried Rice Blend,” butternut squash fresh-cut products and zucchini noodles.

For a full list of the products, their stock-keeping unit numbers and lot numbers, visit the Growers Express website .

Related story:

Growers Express recalls Green Giant Fresh products

Behind the 8 ball (squash) on PMG

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:09 GMT

The first week of July brought a lot of shuffling of the top 20 produce items on Produce Market Guide, with some summertime specialties joining the ranks of standard favorites.

Watermelon went from No. 16 to No. 1, and cucumbers moved up a spot to No. 2. Specialty crenshaw melons rejoined the list at No. 3, and blueberries rose to No. 4 from No. 12 the previous week . Peaches gained nine spots to complete the top 5.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG July 1-7.

Beans slipped a spot to No. 6, while beets moved up to No. 7 from No. 18 the previous week. Okra fell four places to No. 8, and specialty manzano bananas rejoined at No. 9. Lemons moved up two places to round out the top 10.

Cherries fell to No. 11 from No. 7 the previous week, and mangoes fell 10 spots to No. 12. Avocados dropped to No. 13 from No. 6 the week before, and yellow plums came back to the list at No. 14. Blackberries slipped five spots to No. 15.

Mini watermelons joined at No. 16, and lettuce fell four spots to No. 17. Eggplant came back to the list at No. 18, while specialty 8 ball squash appeared at No. 19. Apples fell three spots from the week before, landing at No. 20.

It's red, blue ... green and orange in the PMG top 20

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:09 GMT

Although things weren’t all red, white and blue on PMG in the week leading up to the July Fourth holiday, seasonal favorites still stacked the top 20. Specialty melons vaulted into first place, with mangoes rising nine spots from the week before to land at No. 2, bumping cucumbers to No. 3. Okra rose two spots, to No. 4, and beans climbed to No. 5 from No. 8 the previous week.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG June 24-30.

Avocados rejoined the list at No. 6, and cherries rose three spots to No. 7. Broccoli came back to the list at No. 8, and peas rose to No. 9 from No. 15 the week before. Blackberries fell to No. 10 from the top slot.

Lemons fell seven spots to No. 11, and blueberries fell to No. 12 from No. 3 the week before. Lettuce jumped to No. 13 from its previous No. 20 rank, while peaches slipped two places to No. 14. Haitian mangoes gained a spot to complete the top 15.

Watermelon fell nine spots to No. 16, and apples came back to the list at No. 17. Beets also rejoined, at No. 18, bumping oranges to No. 19. Sweet potatoes came back to round out the top 20.

Trending on PMG ... loquat?

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:29 GMT

For the past couple of weeks a certain specialty has been topping the charts on PMG — namely, loquat ! This slightly fuzzy fruit has taken the No. 1 spot from May 6-19, followed by oranges at No. 2 (up from No. 5 the previous week), mangoes at No. 3 (up from No. 9), watermelon at No. 4 (the same as the previous week) and haitian mangoes at No. 5 (down from No. 2).

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG May 13-19.

Lemons rose from No. 13 the previous week to land at No. 6, and tomatoes climbed three places to No. 7. Cucumbers rose to No. 8 from No. 15 the previous week, while cherries fell to No. 9 from No. 6. Lettuce fell to No. 10 from No. 3 the week before.

Specialty manzano bananas gained a spot to wind up at No. 11, and peaches rejoined the list at No. 12. Avocados moved up one place to No. 13, and beans also made a comeback, at No. 14. Specialty Chinese cinnabar melon fell two spots to No. 15.

Radishes moved up a place, to No. 16, and navel oranges rejoined at No. 17. Bell peppers also came back, at No. 18, and specialty burro bananas rejoined at No. 19. Carrots fell two spots from the previous week to complete the top 20.

Learn more about loquat and Chinese cinnabar melon on producemarketguide.com . (P.S. Have a photo of Chinese cinnabar melon we could use on PMG? E-mail it to us at news@thepacker.com with the subject line “Chinese cinnabar melon photo.”)

Rouge River Farms acquires Magnolia Packing of Georgia

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 17:21:38 GMT

Ontario, Canada-based Rouge River Farms has announced it has acquired all assets and shares of Americus, Ga.-based Magnolia Packing .

The deal was finalized on June 1, according to a news release.
Magnolia Packing is a green bean grower and packer with operations in Florida and Georgia, according to the release.

Following the agreement, with Rouge River Farms, Magnolia will continue to operate with their current management and sales staff to ensure a smooth transition to the new ownership, according to the release.

Outgoing President Taylor Neighbors will remain a vital part of the company as a full-time advisor, according to the release.

“This is such an exciting opportunity”, Rouge River Farms president Robert Reesor said in the release. Reesor will assume the role of president of Magnolia, according to the release.

“Not only does the Magnolia green bean packing operation already complement our corn program at Rouge River, but this year we’ll be able to offer a year-round green bean program upon opening our new packinghouse in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley”.

“With 5,000 acres of green beans planted, the new packinghouse will be an important new asset,” outgoing president Neighbors said in the release. “Combined with the reach of Rouge River and the
many talents of their team, big things are on the horizon for Magnolia Packing.”

Lipman Family Farms to Offer a Taste of Fresh-Cut Produce at PMA Foodservice Amid Increased Demand

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:37:44 GMT

IMMOKALEE, FL. (July 14, 2021) – As foodservice operations get back up and running, consumers are eager to dine out. More than 3.7 million consumers visited a restaurant via Yelp in May 2021, a record high for the app. In response to foodservice demand surpassing pre-pandemic levels, coupled with the desire to innovate and promote labor efficiencies, Lipman Family Farms will showcase their growing fresh-cut line at the upcoming PMA Foodservice conference.

The fresh-cut line is harvested, packed, clipped and cleaned through Lipman’s supply chain network to provide a high-quality, ready-to-serve product that eliminates prep time and reduces back-of-house labor. One product Lipman will showcase at PMA Foodservice is their ready-to-eat green beans. Available in a high-graphic, microwavable bag, the green beans are offered in a variety of sizes ranging from 12-ounces to 32-ounces and bulk sizing, ready to ship to customers within 24 hours.

“With consumers eager to get back out and experience restaurants and dining again, we are seeing equally eager menu developers ready to innovate again,” said Wil Wilbur, corporate chef at Lipman Family Farms. “We are energized by the desire to incorporate new, fresh ingredients into menus and are continuously developing our food-safe, ready-to-eat, fresh-cut product line, blends and mixes.”

With guaranteed product availability, Lipman’s green beans are grown on exclusive acreage in Guasave, Mexico and Baja California, Mexico and distributed by Lipman’s west coast distribution network. The green beans are also available as organic and fall under the full Grown-True line of products, which also includes tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, and squash varieties.

Stop by PMA Foodservice booth 219 on July 22, where Lipman will be showcasing its fresh-cut capabilities, offering samples by Chef Wil, and sharing insights on Lipman Culinary, a new, free resource available to customers to help reduce gaps in the farm to table connection and improve the consumer experience. To access Lipman resources and join the live event, register and attend PMA Foodservice.

Figs at the fore (and more) on PMG

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:03 GMT

There were more shake-ups on PMG the second week of July, with cucumbers moving up to No. 1 and beans climbing from No. 6 the previous week to No. 2. Okra likewise rose from No. 8 to No. 3, while figs rejoined the top 20 at No. 4. Blackberries vaulted 10 places to wind up at No. 5.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG July 8-14.

Yellow plums shot up eight spaces to land at No. 6, while crenshaw melons fell to No. 7 from No. 3 previously. Peaches fell three spots to No. 8, and mangoes climbed to No. 9 from No. 12 the week before. Beets fell three places, rounding out the top 10.

Blueberries fell to No. 11 from No. 4 the week before, and lettuce rose to No. 12 from No. 17 previously. Oranges rejoined the list at No. 13. Apples claimed the No. 14 spot this week, from No. 20 the week before. Cherries came in at No. 15, falling four spots.

Manzano bananas likewise fell to No. 16 from No. 9 the week before, and mini watermelon slipped a spot to No. 17. Watermelon fell to No. 18 from the top spot the previous week, and cauliflower made a comeback at No. 19, bumping 8 ball squash to No. 20.

Alpine Fresh conducts voluntary recall of “Hippie Organics French Beans” because of possible health risk

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:26:57 GMT

FDA bulletin April 25

Alpine Fresh, Inc. of Doral, Florida is voluntarily recalling its 1 pound packages of “Hippie Organics” French Beans from lot# 313-626, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled “Hippie Organics 1lbs French Beans” were distributed in Whole Foods (CT, FL, GA, IL, MD) , Aldi (FL) and LIDL (DE, GA, MD, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, VA) retail stores.

The product comes in a 1 pound, clear plastic package marked with lot # 313-626 on the back on a small, white label.

Crystal Valley Foods debuts new packs at IFPA Foodservice Conference

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:13:51 GMT

Miami, Fla.-based Crystal Valley Foods is introducing new foodservice vegetable packs at the International Fresh Produce Association’s July 28-29 Foodservice Conference.

The company is unveiling its 2-pound foodservice bags, available for French beans, green beans and asparagus, said Katiana Valdes, director of marketing and business development for the company. All the products have information about the products, in addition to bar codes, on the bags, she said.

Valdes said Crystal Valley is seeing more active foodservice demand.

“Consumers are eager to get back together after being stuck at home for the last two years,” she said. “We are eager to see an increase in foodservice as more people are out and about and sharing more meals together.”

Bacteria Boosts Beans

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:56:59 GMT

Soybeans are a workhorse crop that are expected to produce solid yields with little or no TLC. With soybean prices in double digits today, however, farmers are looking for inputs, such as inoculants, to help boost yields from this easygoing crop.

Inoculants are made up of tiny bacteria called rhizobia that occur naturally in soils and are manufactured, as well, by various companies. In both cases, rhizobia partner with soybeans to boost nodulation and fix nitrogen.The better your soybeans handle these two tasks, the better they will tend to perform in the field.

A manufactured inoculant is applied on approximately 40% of all U.S. soybean fields annually,
estimates Ryan Locke, North American marketing manager for soybeans for EMD Crop BioScience Inc. That percentage is double what it was only 10 years ago, he adds.

When to inoculate. The challenge for most soybean producers is determining when it makes sense to use manufactured inoculants, which are based on the Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain of rhizobia.

“If I’m planting soybeans after a field has been in CRP [Conservation Reserve Program] or in a field that’s not had soybeans for three years, then I’m going to make the investment in a manufactured inoculant,” says Bill Wiebold, University of Missouri soybean Extension specialist.
Wiebold’s colleagues in other Midwestern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin, offer similar recommendations that range between three and five years.

The timing recommendations for manufactured inoculants vary based on how well the naturally occurring rhizobia work in various soils.

Flooded soybean fields are also candidates for an inoculant, depending on the length of time a field has been under water, according to Wiebold.

“Bacteria are aerobic, and when in water for prolonged periods of time, they drown,” he says.

Some of the Extension specialists say a couple of the newer manufactured inoculant products, including Optimize 400 and Vault HP, provide additional benefits.

“These components can help with early plant growth, especially in cool and wet soils associated with early planting,” says Shaun Casteel, Purdue University soybean Extension specialist. “However, while plant stand establishment can be improved, we usually do not see much of a yield benefit in a corn–soybean rotation.”

University of Illinois soybean Extension specialist Vince Davis notes that a yield increase of 1 bu. per acre or less is common. “With $13 per bushel beans and a $2 to $4 per acre cost, it takes very little yield benefit to pay for itself,” he says.

For a seed-applied inoculant, the cost range is influenced by seeding, notes Shawn Conley, University of Wisconsin soybean and wheat Extension specialist.

New bacteria. EMD’s Locke says that, even in continuous soybeans, the impact of seasonal stresses on existing rhizobia can reduce their populations. For that reason, soybeans benefit from an annual infusion of new bacteria that can help support seedling development and emergence in early spring.

“We see a gain of 2 bu. to 4 bu. per acre on average,” Locke says.

He adds that farmers can expect EMD’s Optimize 400 to provide a return on investment 70% of the time.

Becker Underwood reports that its Vault HP contains a patented growth enhancer that supports increased nitrogen-fixing nodules. “This can lead to more robust root structure, better
nitrogen fixation and more yield potential,” says Eda Reinot, the company’s director of research and development.

Not all inoculants are created equal, and their efficacy does vary considerably, according to Wisconsin’s Conley.

“The range of success can be less than 5% to greater than an 80% break-even, depending upon the product,” Conley says.

It’s hard to isolate a yield boost in soybeans to a single input because there are so many variables, Davis contends.

Effective evaluation. University of Nebraska Extension agronomist Charles Wortmann says the only way for farmers to effectively evaluate is to conduct strip trials to compare soybean yield results with and without inoculant treatments.

“There should be at least six replications, giving 12 strips, with yield determined for each strip separately,” he explains. “All other management should be consistent across strips.

“We like to see such trials conducted in three different fields or in one field over three years before we have much confidence in the results,” he adds. “Such trials are easily conducted when farmers are equipped with guidance equipment and yield monitors.”

Locke encourages farmers to pull root samples from treated fields to evaluate efficacy. “Cut a nodule open. If it’s white or slightly pink, that product isn’t performing like it should,” he says. “You want to see a strong, vibrant, pink color. If the nodules are all white, even if you see 100 of them, there’s no nitrogen fixation going on.”

Davis adds that farmers need to remember that rhizobia are living organisms and that their health is an important factor in efficacy. To achieve the best results with manufactured inoculant products, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Becker Underwood claims an on-seed survival rating of 125 days for the rhizobial inoculant component in its Vault HP. According to Renoit, this rating helps extend the time frame available for the seed-treating process and planting.