New Jersey agriculture secretary tours Philadelphia market
New Jersey agriculture secretary tours Philadelphia market
PHILADELPHIA -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus visited the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, here, Aug. 16 to meet with produce distributors and tour the market.
Mr. Kuperus was hosted by broker Chuck Zambito of Zambito Produce Sales in Woodbury, NJ, and accompanied by Al Murray, director of marketing and development for the department.
The trio started the market visit with a meeting with market President Jimmy Storey of Quaker City Produce Co. and Joe Procacci, owner of Procacci Bros./Garden State Farms. Mr. Kuperus told this group that his department is conducting research through Rutgers University to assure that the Jersey Fresh promotion program is on target.
The secretary commended Mr. Procacci for his work in growing ugly ripe tomatoes in New Jersey, and wished him success in Florida to change that state's current quality standards so that ugly ripes can be shipped out of state. He also indicated that Procacci Bros.' efforts to package grape tomatoes for New Jersey schools is on target for the marketing mentality needed by the produce industry to extend its markets.
Mr. Kuperus said that New Jersey is the first state in the union to offer "only healthy, nutritious foods in the schools," including high schools.
He said the produce industry needs to produce more "leaners, which he defined as fruits so juicy that "you have to lean out to eat them or you get juice on your tie. In the leaner category, New Jersey is now putting out new peach standards "to raise the taste experience for consumers of New Jersey peaches.
To make such standards, the peaches must be shipped within seven days after harvest, meet USDA extra fancy or higher standards, and be endorsed by a third party audit.
New Jersey is also working on similar standards for vine-ripe tomatoes.
Mr. Kuperus was hosted by broker Chuck Zambito of Zambito Produce Sales in Woodbury, NJ, and accompanied by Al Murray, director of marketing and development for the department.
The trio started the market visit with a meeting with market President Jimmy Storey of Quaker City Produce Co. and Joe Procacci, owner of Procacci Bros./Garden State Farms. Mr. Kuperus told this group that his department is conducting research through Rutgers University to assure that the Jersey Fresh promotion program is on target.
The secretary commended Mr. Procacci for his work in growing ugly ripe tomatoes in New Jersey, and wished him success in Florida to change that state's current quality standards so that ugly ripes can be shipped out of state. He also indicated that Procacci Bros.' efforts to package grape tomatoes for New Jersey schools is on target for the marketing mentality needed by the produce industry to extend its markets.
Mr. Kuperus said that New Jersey is the first state in the union to offer "only healthy, nutritious foods in the schools," including high schools.
He said the produce industry needs to produce more "leaners, which he defined as fruits so juicy that "you have to lean out to eat them or you get juice on your tie. In the leaner category, New Jersey is now putting out new peach standards "to raise the taste experience for consumers of New Jersey peaches.
To make such standards, the peaches must be shipped within seven days after harvest, meet USDA extra fancy or higher standards, and be endorsed by a third party audit.
New Jersey is also working on similar standards for vine-ripe tomatoes.
