A program launched by the Michigan Ag Council June 3 will help Michigan consumers easily identify Michigan-produced commodities. Under the "Pure Michigan Agriculture" program, retailers can take advantage of special signage designed to remove the guesswork. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness about food and agriculture in Michigan today.

Nixa, MO-based Market Fresh Produce, which offers full line procurement and category management in tomatoes, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, peppers, avocados and kiwi, announced the hire of HANNAH HARRIS to its business development team on May 29.

HAMMONTON, NJ — The timing of the 2013 New Jersey blueberry season is looking like it might be termed a return to normalcy following last year’s season, which was the earliest in many, many decades, according to John Galaida, general manager of Pleasantdale Farms.

“It seems like the 17th, 18th [of June] probably” for the start of the state’s upcoming season, Galaida told The Produce News Wednesday, May 29, during an interview at his office here in the southern part of New Jersey. “There may be a few people picking a day or two earlier.”

Due to very favorable weather for table grapes in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, the growing season for Hronis Inc. is off to an early start this year, according to a written statement from the company to The Produce News. “The company is fully integrating the most client-requested packaging to help accommodate retailers’ needs.”

IFCO Systems, a global leader in reusable plastic containers for fresh products, released a study confirming RPCs as a sustainable packaging option.

The report shows the IFCO solution generates 82 percent less solid waste, consumes 92 percent less water, requires 49 percent lower energy demand and lowers ozone depletion by 76 percent for a weighted average of 10 top produce commodities compared with shipping the same amount of produce in display-ready corrugated boxes.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importer's Association has released its 2013-14 Category Management Plan Outline for Fresh Peruvian Asparagus, which provides fresh-market asparagus consumption key demographics and suggestions regarding displays, as well as promotional and advertising ideas that offer retailers strategies to increase sales of Peruvian asparagus.

According to the outline, fresh asparagus continues to be a high-volume U.S. import, with more than 413 million pounds imported or consumed throughout the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.