Archive For The “News” Category
Fresh produce is involved in a new service at a Florida port ranging from avocados to bananas, limes mangos and pineapples.
Port Manatee, located at Palmetto, FL is starting a two-way service with Mexico that includes fresh fruits and vegetables. The Port of Coatzacoalcos in the southern part of Mexico is involved in the new service, which got underway several weeks ago.
The calls at the port are scheduled to be carried out by the continer ship Falmouth, which has a nominal capacity of 862 TEUs, or 20-foot equvilent container units and is equipped with 204 plugs to provide power to refrigerated containers. The service is being promoted as the quickest short sea connection from Mexico to the United States Southeast, Northeast and Mid-west.
“Port Manatee’s proximity to Mexico is ideal for this service, said Carlos Diaz, the line’s business director. “This new fast connection will offer reduced costs and enhanced delivery of fresher product to consumers east of the Mississippi.”
Port Manatee bills itself as the largest capacity port on Florida’s west coast. Institution of the service builds upon the port’s history of successfully handling refrigerated products and its cross Gulf proximity to Mexico.
By the Produce for Better Health Foundation
The vast majority of shoppers cite the importance of eating fresh produce, but they also find it to be a hassle, according to a new report.
Since 1991, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has been dedicated to producing a healthier America through increased fruit and vegetable consumption. PBH conducts regular consumer surveys to identify psychosocial factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in an effort to monitor progress and inform industry, health influencers, and policy makers. Primary shoppers were surveyed in 2012 and 2014 and are the basis for PBH’s latest report, Primary Shoppers’ Attitudes and Beliefs Related to Fruit & Vegetable Consumption 2012 vs 2014.
Highlights from the report include:
- Shoppers Eat More
- More than 80% of primary shoppers think it’s important to eat fruit and vegetables and nearly that same percentage find them enjoyable to eat.
- Consuming Fruit & Vegetables Can Be A Chore
- Concerns about spoilage is cited as more of a problem in 2014 than two years prior when it comes to increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables.
- Favorability
- Despite the fact that shoppers recognize the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, virtually all forms of fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juice) are viewed less favorably in 2014 than two years prior.
- Communications
- Primary shoppers report that TV news segments, supermarket flyers or newspaper ads, and signs on supermarket displays are the most effective ways to communicate with them when they are making a food decision.
- Income Differences
- Lower income households consume fewer fruit and vegetables than higher income households, yet they equally perceive that they consume enough.
- Motivated Purchases
Two out of three shoppers are favorable toward the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® national health campaign and brand and appreciate the message as a reminder to eat more fruit and vegetables.
Savannah, Georgia trails only New York City as an East Coast container port and ranks No. 4 nationally after Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, according to Datamyne and compiled by Bloomberg.
Now, the city, which as a modest population of 143,000, is opening another shipping market in the city’s emergence as a major trade hub with the Port of Savannah.
The Georgia Port Authority reports not only has Savannah been the fastest-growing port in the U.S. for the past 10 years, but it is now in a position to grow and become No. 1., something that was unfathomable a decade ago.
Ongoing improvements at the port are continuing to push it forward.
Bloomberg reports that the Port of Savannah’s September imports rose 21.7% compared to a 7% increase for New York. However, keep in mind that New York still imported nearly twice the cargo.
Of course, New York will always move large cargo volumes because of its massive consuming population.
One of the large selling points for Savannah is the port’s proximity to major expressways like I-20 and I-95. The port is currently working to deepen its waters to attract larger ships that may come through the expanded Panama Canal as well.
We take this opportunity to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving, and feel very blessed to live in the United States, which still offers so many opportunities. If you were not able to make it home this holiday, we wish you safe travels and to be with those closet to you soon.
Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November.
In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England.
Several days of Thanksgiving were held in early New England history that have been identified as the “First Thanksgiving”, including Pilgrim holidays in Plymouth in 1621 and 1623, and a Puritan holiday in Boston in 1631. According to historian Jeremy Bangs, director of the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, the Pilgrims may have been influenced by watching the annual services of Thanksgiving for the relief of the siege of Leiden in 1574, while they were staying in Leiden. In later years, religious thanksgiving services were declared by civil leaders such as Governor Bradford, who planned a thanksgiving celebration and fast in 1623. The practice of holding an annual harvest festival did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s.
Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until after the American Revolution. During the revolutionary period, political influences affected the issuance of Thanksgiving proclamations. Various proclamations were made by royal governors, John Hancock, General George Washington, and the Continental Congress, each giving thanks to God for events favorable to their causes. As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God”.
In modern times the President of the United States, in addition to issuing a proclamation, will “pardon” a turkey, which spares the bird’s life and ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland.
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated the second Monday in October. The first Canadian Thanksgiving is often traced back to 1578 and the explorer Martin Frobisher. Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean, held his Thanksgiving celebration not for harvest but in thanks for surviving the long journey from England through the perils of storms and icebergs.
By The National Watermelon Promotion Board
Winter Springs, FL – At 92 percent water and chock full of nutrients, watermelon is a naturally hydrating food fit for the finish line. That’s the message National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), along with its entourage of watermelon queens from National Watermelon Association (NWA) and mascot J. Slice, shared during the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) festivities in Washington, D.C., last month 24-26 where it served a truckload of healthy watermelon to athletes and families.
“From watermelon queens decked out in crowns and sashes touring D.C. landmarks to hydration tips shared via social media and 10 tons of refreshing watermelon at the finish festival, watermelon made a showy appearance at the Marine Corps Marathon during the Board’s second year as a sponsor,” says Stephanie Barlow, NWPB director of PR and social media.
Starting with the three-day Health & Fitness Expo where runners picked up their registration packets, NWPB shared recipes and nutrition research showing why watermelon is nature-made for athletes – offering replenishing electrolytes, like potassium, and sore-muscle relief from the amino acid citrulline.
At Saturday’s MCM Kids Run, nearly 3,600 D.C.-area youth ran one mile at the Pentagon parking lot. National Watermelon Queen Brandi Harrison and mascot J. Slice acted as official race starters for one wave of youth runners.
“The Kids Run fosters a healthy family lifestyle. To that end, NWPB is sponsoring five ‘Jump with Jill’ shows – a music-based health program – next spring for five local schools that had the most participation and won the ‘Healthy School Award,’” shares Barlow. During the event, watermelon queens met with families and handed out 1,200 pounds of fresh watermelon slices while distributing recipe cards, coloring sheets and stickers. At the Mascot Games, J. Slice joined the Marine Corps’ bulldogs Miles and Molly and others to compete in the 100-yard dash.
Known as the “People’s Marathon” and the third largest marathon in the U.S., more than 30,000 athletes participated in the Marine Corps Marathon this year. On Sunday at the MCM Finish Festival in Rosslyn, Va., NWPB served 20,000 samples of refreshing watermelon to athletes and their supporters.
By The Produce Mom
Thanksgiving’s almost here—time to give thanks and celebrate the bounty of the harvest on this holiday that emphasizes family values. But moms who are trying to offer up a wow factor along with their healthy Thanksgiving feasts may find it more of a challenge than a celebration. For fresh, family-friendly holiday meal ideas with pizzazz, join The Produce Mom and her partners as they host a #HealthyThanksgiving Twitter Party Wednesday, November 19, at 9 p.m. EST.
“Thanksgiving, a day that reminds us all that food truly is culture, is the perfect occasion for creating unique food presentations and putting a new spin on favorite dishes that will impress family and guests,” said Lori Taylor, The Produce Mom. “This season, two of the hottest topics are how to create chef-quality dishes and how to ensure our meals are sustainable and minimize waste, and we’ve got lots of ideas on how to do just that.”
“Food is the ultimate way to deliver the wow factor this Thanksgiving, but you don’t have to be a chef to impress your guests,” said Nick Quintero, digital marketing manager for Melissa’s Produce. “Our chef-inspired recipes encourage consumers to enjoy all the ingredients of the global market to create fantastic dishes for friends and family.”
“With Josie’s Organics organic vegetables, sustainability extends from the farm all the way to the family table,” said Chadwick Boyd, Josie’s Organics food and lifestyle expert. “We use the whole vegetable, from root to leaf, in our recipes so that no part of our veggies—especially during the holidays—goes to waste.”
The Produce Mom’s social media parties and contests typically reach more than a million consumers. During their time slot, they often rank among the top 10 national trending hash tags on Twitter, so it’s a great way for consumers to participate in an activity that enjoys a history of trending. The hour-long parties receive nearly 3,500 posts to the party-specific hash tag.
If consumers aren’t familiar with tweeting, it’s easy to get started. Here’s how. First, go to twitter.com/signup and set up a free Twitter account. Once you’re logged in, click the Follow button next to The Produce Mom’s profile page, @ProduceMom. Then, on Wednesday, November 19, at 9 p.m. EST, log in to your Twitter account and join in on the conversation using the #HealthyThanksgiving hash tag in your tweets.
During the party, prizes supplied by each host organization are randomly awarded to lucky participants who respond to hosts’ questions using the #HealthyThanksgiving hash tag.
For this #HealthyThanksgiving Twitter Party we’ve gathered together 12 event hosts, each with a unique perspective, to share their fresh take on this holiday that holds special meaning to families everywhere.
If you haul imported produce at ports ranging from Washington state to Long Beach on the West Coast, your chances of claims are increasing as delays in getting product out of the ports are increasing, due to a labor dispute.
Imported perishables coming through West Coast ports have been delayed two to three day late on average.
This is resulting in a domino effect through distribution procedures and with timely deliveries. These delays effect overall shelf life of the imported fruit and in the end trickles down to less time for consumers to eat the product.
The Pacific Maritime Association said recently a slowdown by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., had spread to Los Angeles and Long Beach. The two California ports handle about 64 percent of containerized cargo on the West Coast. The union has denied a slowdown is taking place in either state, blaming the problems on a business model that interferes with on-time delivery of chassis systems.
Congestion has been occurring since at least last September in Los Angeles and Long Beach, where management lays blame on a variety of causes including a shortage of chassis, rail cars, surging cargo volume and a shortage of truck drivers. Labor strife will aggravate that, they said.
“Although the existing congestion has had ripple effects throughout the supply chain, it is the ILWU slowdowns that now have the potential to bring the port complex to the brink of gridlock,” Pacific Maritime Association spokesman Wade Gates said in a news release.
In Seattle and Tacoma terminals that typically move 25 to 35 containers hourly, were moving just 10 to 18, according to the Pacific Maritime Association.
The two sides have been in negotiations since July 1, when the last contract expired.
The completion of the first phase of the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market’s expansion was recently celebrated by produce merchants, city leaders and members of the community.
Located on the east end of the market at 901 Rankin St., the new building adds 82,000 square feet of produce distribution and warehouse space to the market’s existing 300,000 square feet. The building provides office space as well as 20 refrigerated dock doors. It sits on about 3 acres.
Approximately 25,000 square feet of the new facility already has been leased to Mollie Stone’s Markets, Mill Valley, Calif. It will serve as the central produce distribution center for all nine of Mollie Stone’s stores in the region. The retailer of organic and natural foods plans to build out the space to meet its needs and move there in early spring., Mollie Stone’s had been part of the market for several years but had outgrown its existing space.
The wholesale market is finalizing a lease on the other space and hopes to make an announcement shortly. Prior to 2013, 3 acres of space wasn’t even in the market until city land became part of the property.
The completion of this facility is the first phase of the wholesale produce market’s $100 million investment and expansion plan, providing a modern and efficient home from which to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to restaurants and local grocers in the city The new facility is part of a much larger long-term “reinvestment plan” made possible when the city of San Francisco, which owns the land on which the market sits, signed a 60-year least with the market in September 2013.
Many consumers have noticed U.S. lemon prices have reached record highs this year.
USDA data shows that for the year ending July 31, lemon prices increased the value of the crop by 62 percent to $647.7 million. It also means you’re paying a lot more for them at the store.
Lemons received a big boost this year fro
m several different factors. The prices of limes tripled by May for some buyers after crop damage in Mexico led to tight supplies and varying effects on supply from drought conditions in California were both key contributors, according to Bloomberg.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that wholesale lemon prices almost doubled from the previous year, and retail lemons are up 36 percent to $2.327 per pound in August. According to Bloomberg, that is the highest since the Bureau began tracking them in 1980.
This price increase has been good to the California lemon growers who harvest lemons almost year-round and accounted for 91 percent of the U.S. lemon crop this year.
Harold Edwards, Limoneira CEO Harold Edwards, Limoneira’s Chief Executive Officer, told Bloomberg, “This has been by far our most profitable lemon year.” Edwards added that Limoneira, which farms 4,000 acres of lemons in California and Arizona, received about $24 on average for each 40lb carton sold in the fiscal year that ends next month. This is a 50 percent increase from a year earlier.
Sunkist Growers tells Bloomberg that consumers, restaurants and beverage makers have all boosted lemon demand to an all-time high due to growing popularity. Mintel Group Ltd’s Menu Insights database shows that lemon-flavored ingredients on food-service menus climbed approximately 1 percent between the second quarters of 2011 and 2014.
In sort of a flashback to the ’70s it seems history is repeating itself as a lot of hoopla is taking place about the rail industry getting more serious about hauling fresh produce – and competing with trucks. In the short run it seems not to have worked out that well — at least for some.
The latest example is McKay TransCold of Minneapolis, which closed its doors November 1st, after launching a new refrigerated boxcar service last June. Known as Transcold Express, it had weekly runs between Selma, CA and Wilmington, IL. However, the company had problems with its cross dock operation in Wilmington, where it had spent monies on significant upgrades of the facility. Unable to find additional investors to continue operations, the company decided to call it quits.
Another short lived example of a foray into the rail perishables business is the Cold Train Express Intermodal service that suspended service last summer. Cold Train saw its on time service on BNSF’s Northern Corridor plummet from 90 percent in November 2013 to only 5% percent last April. Cold Train said the reason relates to soaring oil and coal shipments by rail. For example, the Northern Corridor of BNSF saw tank car shipments increase from 20,000 three years to over 400,000 this year. Unlike it’s southern routes, which has two sets of tracks, the northern route has only one set of rail tracks.
Meanwhile, Railex, which started a rail service a few years ago, seems to be doing better than anyone, with it’s coast-to-coast service. Another service, Tiger Cool Express LLC, also remains in business, but we hear little about it.
Produce is viewed by some in the rail industry as the last long-haul, $100 billion market that intermodal has yet to penetrate. Still, over 95 percent of fresh produce is delivered by truck in the U.S.. Rail officials are counting on trucks supplies tightening, with the driver shortage continuing to worsen and increasing government regulations on the trucking industry – which in theory is supposed to be deregulated.