Pears
Washington-based grower-shipper Superfresh Growers has introduced its first apple and pear bags made from post-consumer recycled plastic.
Pear producers in Washington and Oregon have elected to continue their federal marketing order this year with a 99% approval vote.
Stemilt Growers produces nearly 30% of its apples and about 15% of its pears organically, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for the Wenatchee, Wash.-based marketer.
Kevin D. Moffitt is set to relinquish day-to-day duties as president and CEO this summer after 35 years with the marketing organization, though he will aid the transition of his successor.
California pear growers are expected to begin harvest in the River growing district July 15 with bartlett and red bartlett being the first varieties to harvest this year.
California is expected have plenty of good-quality tree fruit, melons and other commodities this summer, though some items might get off to a later start than usual, and early volume on others may be off a bit.
The Chelsea, Mass.-based brand says it will work with partners in Argentina and offer a 2-pound pear bag, with pears also available in full-size cartons or half-cartons.
Chilean table grape production will jump by nearly 15% in the 2023-24 marketing year, a new report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service says.
Massachusetts-based brand Morning Kiss Organic said it expects good supplies for the season, which runs through June.
As we steamroll through fall (hey, where did 2022 go?), we have to continually switch up our counters with the abundant fall crops and bountiful fruit that the season provides.
That is the view of the World Apple and Pear Association, according to a report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Association.
The Celina cv. pear — marketed as QTee in other growing regions — has been granted approval to enter the U.S. market through Washington-based Proprietary Variety Management.
The Northwest pear industry’s fresh pear estimate for 2023 is on par with the four-year average.
“We can’t wait to share with retailers the strategic growth that has come to light with this year’s crop of apples and pears, and Stemilt specifically,” said Stemilt’s Brianna Shales.
The Wenatchee, Wash.-based company is reporting major growth in branded organic apple sales dollars and more promotion opportunities ahead.
The World Apple and Pear Association has elected Jeff Correa, director of international marketing at Pear Bureau Northwest, as chairman of the association.
Yakima, Wash.-based Washington Fruit Growers expects to market good volume of pears this year, said Dan Davis, director of business development.
Cold damage over the winter will translate to lower Northwest pear output for 2024, industry leaders say.
Industrywide, early Northwest pear estimates are coming with about 30% less volume compared with 2023, said Kaci Komstadius, vice president of marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.
Striving not to gap in availability to the consumer, Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh continues expanding the length of season on multiple organic tree fruit varieties, says Kevin Stennes, organic sales manager.
The line features Unitec pear-sizing and -sorting technology to increase the Wenatchee, Wash.-based marketer’s packing capacity and consistency in size and grade, said Brianna Shales, marketing director.
The new automated sorting and defect ability doubles the capacity of the company’s previous packing line, the company says.
The organic market is still evolving, and marketers are learning the effect of inflation on consumer choices. Still, there is optimism for organic produce’s future, said Dan Davis, vice president of business development.
Cold Connect, a Union Pacific Railroad program that shipped fresh produce and other perishables across the country, has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Van Doren Sales Inc., East Wenatchee, Wash., which manufactures packinghouse equipment, has acquired Agjet LLC., a data integration company focused on case handling, coding and traceability.
The World Apple and Pear Association is forecasting Europe’s 2020 apple production to drop slightly from last season, but pears will see a double-digit increase.
The Pear Bureau Northwest, Milwaukie, Ore., has promoted Neil Ferguson to creative marketing manager.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is touting its apple and pear packaging options at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.
After 40 years in the produce industry and 20 years at Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers, Roger Pepperl is retiring at the end of the year.