Finally, Birds Eye Fresh adds mushroom line
Mushrooms are considered to be a perfect complement to many dishes, and with the recent signing of a supply agreement with Birds Eye Fresh, one major mushroom supplier will have a chance to prove that its product is the perfect complement to a national fresh produce brand.
Under an agreement signed Oct. 18, Cardile Bros. Mushroom Packaging Inc. in Avondale, PA, will supply fresh white and exotic mushrooms to be distributed nationwide under the "Birds Eye Fresh" label.
Highline Mushrooms captures Vendor of the Year award from Meijer
Highline Mushrooms, a leading independent family-owned grower-shipper of fresh mushrooms in Canada, with farms in Leamington and Wellington, ON, and distribution facilities in Montreal, was named Vendor of the Year by Meijer Supermarkets at its recent Perishable Vendor Summit in Grand Rapids, MI.
Oppenheimer the exclusive North American distributor of Tottori 20th Century pears
Tottori 20th Century pears from Japan are the latest item to be packed exclusively under the "Oppenheimer" brand.
The sweet, yellow-skinned pears are one of the more unusual items in the Vancouver, BC-based marketer's pipfruit repertoire. Grown with exacting care by growers in Japan's Tottori prefecture, the quality of these pears make them a perfect fit for the "Oppenheimer" brand, according to John Anderson, chairman, president and CEO of Oppenheimer.
Hurricane heads to southern Florida
After thrashing Cancun and Cozumel in Mexico Saturday, Oct. 22, Hurricane Wilma was heading toward southern Florida on a path that was expected to take it somewhere between the Florida Keys and Tampa.
Forcasting the tracks of hurricanes is extremely tricky, but as of Sunday afternoon, Oct. 23, the best estimates by weather forecasters have the category 2 storm coming ashore sometime in the early morning hours Monday, Oct. 24 in the vicinity of Naples, FL, then cutting through the state before exiting into the Atlantic Ocean and heading northward up the East Coast.
HURRICANE WILMA: The afternoon after in Florida not an assuring sign
When a homeowner says to a newscaster that in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, his favorite backyard tree now belongs to his neighbor (considering the "possession is nine-tenths of the law" theory), you know the news cannot be much better for Florida fruit and vegetable growers.
PMA moves 2007 convention from New Orleans to Houson
NEWARK, DE -- Because of the logistical uncertainties in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the executive committee of the Produce Marketing Association has voted to move the site of the organization's 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition from New Orleans to Houston for the Oct. 12-15 event.
North Carolina SweetPotato Commission continues strong promotions
The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission, based in Smithfield, NC, is combating the U.S. trend to eat sweet potatoes only on Thanksgiving and other holidays through a promotional campaign targeting numerous markets.
The commission is an independent, member-based nonprofit commodity group. Its membership, now over 400 strong, is comprised of growers who farm a minimum of one acre of sweet potatoes in the state.
Moffitt elected secretary/treasurer of USAEDC
Pear Bureau Northwest President and CEO Kevin Moffitt has added another title to his industry resume, having been elected secretary/treasurer of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council.
The election, which gave Mr. Moffitt a two-year term, took place during the council's board of directors meeting in July. After serving his term, Mr. Moffitt will considered for the position of vice chairman and then chairman.
Sundance and A&W merge strawberry operations
Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce in San Diego and Sundance Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA, have announced a merger of their strawberry operations.
The merger was made "with an eye on expanding year-round availability of strawberries to better serve retailers and foodservice operators," according to an Oct. 18 press release from A&W.
Sundance, which was founded in 2003, operates berry farms in three California growing districts: Oxnard, Santa Maria and Watsonville.
Tanimura & Antle sells interest in Dulcinea Farms
Spreckels, CA-based Tanimura & Antle Partnership has sold all of its interest in Dulcinea Farms LLC in Ladera Ranch, CA, to Syngenta Seeds.
In 2003, T&A partnered with Switzerland-based Syngenta to form Dulcinea Farms to market "Dulcinea!" brand produce items in North America. Those items include Pure Heart watermelons and Tuscan-style sweet cantaloupes proprietary products of Syngenta and other fresh produce items developed by Syngenta and licensed to Dulcinea.