Cantaloupe shippers are seeing continuing strong demand
By Bill Armstrong
Bill Armstrong is a self-employed produce broker who operates Armstrong Marketing in Salinas, CA. His column appears here every Wednesday afternoon/Thursday morning. He may be reached by phone at 888/484-0800 or at ArmstrongMarketing@comc ast.net
WEATHER Salinas, CA: Daytime highs will be in the mid- to upper 60s through Aug. 6 with overnight lows in the low to mid-50s.
Mendota, CA: Daytime highs will be in the mid-90s through Aug. 6 with overnight lows in the low to mid-60s.
DEMAND Idaho shippers are seeing a strong seller's market and said that demand exceeds supply. Cantaloupe shippers are seeing continuing strong demand.
TRANSPORTATION & FUEL Many trucking companies are struggling to find westbound loads from the East Coast. The availability of trucks on the West Coast remains sporadic, and freight rates are expensive.
The price of crude oil fell 65 cents July 28 to $76.85 per barrel, which is 48 percent below record levels of July 2008. The nationwide average price for a gallon of diesel the week of July 26 was $2.92, which is 15 percent higher than one year ago. The average price in California for a gallon of diesel is $3.12, which is also 15 percent higher than last year.
For the full report click here Get current crop and market reports from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service and Agriculture Marketing Service.
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Market News Marketing conditions for hundreds of agricultural commodities at major domestic and international wholesale markets, production areas, and ports of entry.
July 30, 2010
FACILITY EXPANSION
At the Baja Mist expansion ground-breaking were
Gilberto Quintana, general manager of Baja Mist, and
Troy Boutonnet, vice president of production for
Ocean Mist Farms. See Lead Story. (Photo courtesy of
Ocean Mist Farms) Jake Billmeyer …
driving to the basket for the Seaholm High School
Maples basketball team in 2004. Now working for his
family’s business, Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc., he still
finds time to play basketball and soccer in his leisure
time. See Generation Next. (Photo courtesy of Ben B.
Schwartz) Adrienne Meier …
demonstrated how to make easy baked Ocean Mist
Farms artichokes at the grand opening July 23 of a
new Roundy’s banner, Mariano’s Fresh Market, in the
Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. (Photo courtesy
of Ocean Mist) Church Brothers’
‘Teen Green’ lettuce leaves are sized perfectly for
sandwiches and burger buns. The product will be on
display at PMA's upcoming foodservice show. See
Today's Headlines. (Photo courtesy of Church Brothers)
IN QUEBEC
The produce industry came out in force for the
Quebec Produce Marketing Association's golf
tournament in Longueuil, QC. Click here to view Industry Photo pages.
Click here to view the Floral Marketing section of The Produce News.
For a list of some of the popular industry meetings and other events scheduled to take place over the next few months around the country and abroad, complete with contact information and website links, click here.
PACA DECISIONS
The PACA branch of the the USDA-AMS prohibits unfair and fraudulent practices, and provides a means of enforcing contracts.Click here for the agency's latest decisions.
The Produce Industry's Most Trusted Source for Credit Information and Marketing Solutions
Since 1901, Blue Book Services has been the leader in providing the global fresh produce and transportation industries with timely, accurate, and reliable credit and marketing information. Produce suppliers, buyers, brokers and transporters alike rely on Blue Book information to make safe, informed and profitable business decisions. Blue Book Service also includes a full range of dispute resolution services, including collections, mediations and arbitrations. For more information, visit www.producebluebook.com
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Ocean Mist expands facility in Mexico
Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms is expanding its production facility Baja
Mist in Mexicali Valley, Mexico, in order to accommodate sales growth for its
year-round program of product grown in Mexico with commodities such as
green onions and brussels sprouts.
more
Pear Bureau Northwest to educate foodservice industry at PMA's upcoming foodservice show
With the goal of providing "geek-level" knowledge of fresh pear usage and
handling to foodservice operators and distributors, the Portland, OR-based Pear
Bureau Northwest has developed a mini seminar, How to Become a Pear Nerd.
more
Merrigan, Graham and Boehner scheduled to speak at United conference
The architect of the Obama administration's buy local movement, one of the
more important deal-makers in the U.S. Senate, and one of the more
recognizable faces in the House of Representatives will address attendees at the
United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference this
September.
more
Church Brothers will be demonstrating its new 'Teen Green' leaf lettuce at PMA foodservice show
Steve Church, director of operations for Church Brothers LLC in Salinas, CA, told
The Produce News that the company will be demonstrating its newly launched
"Teen Green" leaf lettuce at expo booth No. 18 at the Produce Marketing
Association Foodservice Conference & Exposition in Monterey, CA, set for July 30
to Aug. 1.
more
Chuck Olsen Co. introducing new pack styles at the PMA foodservice show
Jeff Olsen, vice president of The Chuck Olsen Co. Inc., headquartered in Visalia,
CA, said that the company will be introducing a few new pack styles for its citrus
and grape lines at the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference &
Exposition, scheduled for July 30 to Aug. 1 in Monterey, CA.
more
Christopher Ranch will be displaying green garlic and new packaging at the PMA foodservice show
Gilroy, CA-based Christopher Ranch, a mainstay exhibitor at the Produce
Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference & Exposition, will have both a
new product and new packaging on display at this year’s show.
more
IPC's new Spudtacular.com web site to be featured at PMA foodservice booth in Monterey
The Idaho Potato Commission in Eagle, ID, which has been exhibiting at the
Produce Marketing Association's foodservice expo for "at least the 21 years" that
Don Odiorne has been with the commission, will be there again this year at the
Aug. 1 expo in Monterey, CA.
more
Prime Time to feature many uses of bell peppers at expo
Prime Time Sales LLC, the exclusive sales representative for Prime Time
International in Coachella, CA, is a long-time exhibitor at the Produce Marketing
Association's foodservice expo, to be held this year Aug. 1 in Monterey, CA.
more
Innovative business leaders to keynote 2010 Fresh Summit
Rejuvenating business is the theme of Produce Marketing Association's 2010
Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition, to be held Oct. 15-18 in
Orlando, FL, and A.G. Lafley, former chairman and chief executive officer of
Procter & Gamble, leads a slate of powerful speakers who will give attendees
insight on how to do just that.
more
West Pak Avocado to feature customized ripening for avocados at PMA show
West Pak Avocado Inc. in Temecula, CA, has exhibited at the Produce Marketing
Association's foodservice expo in Monterey, CA, "for several years already" and
will be there again this year, according to Doug Meyer, vice president of sales
and marketing.
more
Basciani Mushroom Farms introduces slider-size petite Portabellas
Sliders are small hamburgers usually served three or four to an order, and are
most frequently found on appetizer and bar menus. They have become
increasingly popular in recent years because people can share one or two orders
as a snack or appetizer without committing to a main dish-sized portion.
more
Tanimura & Antle products spark up restaurant menus
By Christina DiMartino
"We continue to expand our artisan lettuce, living lettuce and artisan red onion lines," Rick Antle, chief executive officer for Tanimura & Antle Inc. in Salinas, CA, told The Produce News. “These items are well suited to foodservice because of the great creativity they offer to chefs. The artisan lettuce is a blend of Gem, Tango and Oak lettuce varieties. For foodservice, we offer them in a nine-pound pack.”
Mr. Antle explained that the artisan lettuces are fully mature, so they provide better flavor, texture and body than baby lettuces.
Tanimura & Antle's living lettuce is a Boston variety. The company grows it sustainably in an indoor hydroponic living lettuce facility in Tennessee. The company chose the site specifically because of the food miles the product travels to the Northeast, where it is very popular.
(Tanimura & Antle will exhibit its full line of fresh produce at the Produce Marketing Association’s Foodservice Conference & Exposition, set for July 30 to Aug. 1 in Monterey, CA, at booth No. 13. )
Ben B. Schwartz's Jake Billmeyer looks forward to executive status in career
By Christina DiMartino
In May 2009, 22-year-old Jake Billmeyer stepped out of his graduation gown and cap and positioned himself behind a desk in the sales department at Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc. in Detroit.
He is the son of Chris Billmeyer, the company president and chief executive officer, and also a fourth-generation family member working at the company.
"I graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in business administration," said Mr. Billmeyer.
“I’ve been around the business all of my life. During high school and college, I worked for the company during a couple of summers, and I always enjoyed being in this atmosphere. I work with a great team of people, it is an interesting and competitive industry, and it moves at a very fast pace — all of which I enjoy. That it is my family’s business gave me a lot of added motivation to come on board and to help it grow and evolve in the future.”
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