Archive For The “News” Category
As New Jersey vegetable shipments get underway, here is a look at last season’s volume to add some perspective as to what to expect this summer.
Bell peppers and tomatoes saw significant shipping increases in 2017, while sweet corn acreage was stable.
New Jersey’s top vegetables in 2017 were tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet corn, and total acreage for vegetable crops topped 35,000 acres.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reports shipments for 18 vegetables tracked in New Jersey totaled 507.8 million pounds, with area harvested estimated at 35,100 acres.
2017 harvested vegetable acreage of 35,100 was up 1.4 percent from 2016, when 34,600 acres of vegetables were harvested.
According to the USDA, tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet corn together accounted for 51 percent of total vegetable production in the state.
The total value of utilized production in the state was $193.8 million, and tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet corn together accounted for 48 percent of the total.
Sweet Corn Shipments
- Sweet corn topped all vegetable crops in terms of acreage, with 6,200 acres harvested in 2017, down slightly from 6,400 acres harvested in 2016.
- Sweet corn production of 601,400 cwt. in 2017 compares to 595,000 cwt. in 2016, according to USDA statistics.
- Value of sweet corn production in 2017 totaled $18.04 million, up from $17.29 million in 2016.
Tomato Shipments
- Tomato harvested acreage in 2017 totaled 4,000 acres, up 38 percent from 2,900 acres harvested in 2016.
- Production of tomatoes in 2017 totaled 1.12 million cwt., up 42 percent from 791,000 cwt. in 2016.
- Value of tomatoes in New Jersey was $39.2 million in 2017, down from $46.3 million in 2016.
Bell Pepper Shipments
- Bell pepper harvested acreage in 2017 totaled 3,100 acres, up 34 percent from 2,300 acres in 2016.
- Production of bell peppers in 2017 was 868,000 cwt., up from 633,000 cwt. in 2016.
- Value of bell pepper production in 2017 was $35.9 million, up a whopping 80 pecent from $19.9 million in 2016.
The Nunes Co. and reignited a partnership with well know actress, model and celebrity, Brooke Shields, which originally began in 1989. Nunes is one of the nation’s largest grower-shippers of conventional and organic fresh produce marketed under the Foxy brand name.
The marketing campaign brings Shields back to the Nunes Co. as a role model and icon of wellness, fitness and healthy lifestyles. These value attributes are at the core of everything the company stands for in their efforts to encourage people of all ages to eat right and take care of their health.
The Nunes Co.’s rollout of this new marketing campaign is expected to commence this month and continue through June 2019. A series of outdoor billboards will appear in specific geographic areas in the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Great Lakes regions. The campaign will also include a matching trade advertising component to support the company’s efforts.
Long known for its creative approach to marketing, as evidenced by the countless clever billboards placed in specific geographic markets, The Nunes Co. plans to launch an outdoor billboard series to compliment the campaign. The billboards will be geared towards Millennial moms, Generation X, and Baby Boomers — audiences with which Shields has tremendous followings. According to Forbes, mothers account for nearly 80 percent of U.S. household purchases.
“Ms. Shields, being an active, working mom, is an ideal role model and brand ambassador for the Foxy brand,” said Mark Crossgrove, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Nunes Co.
Shields’ recent work surrounding health, fitness and beauty can be seen across various media outlets, including television shows like The Today Show, and print magazines like Vogue and Social Life magazine.
Having such a positive experience while working with Shields in 1989, the Nunes Co. felt this year was the right time to reengage such a public role model. The successful 1989 campaign featuring Shields is widely considered a legacy campaign in the fresh produce industry — one which people remember and still talk about 30 years later.
Remember our veterans who protect our Homeland as we celebrate our independence. Very thankful for their sacrifices and bravery.
On this 242nd birthday of our beloved country, here are some quotes from one of our greatest presidents. Have a great 4th of July!
Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at the family home in Shadwell in the Colony of Virginia, the third of 10 children. He was of English, and possibly Welsh, descent and was born a British subject. His father Peter Jefferson was a planter and surveyor who died when Jefferson was 14; his mother was Jane Randolph.
He was our 3rd president serving from 1801 – 1809. Here are some of his best quotes.
“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe.”
——
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who
are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
—-
“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on, would save
one-half the wars of the world.”
—-
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them.”
—-
“My reading of history convinces me that
most bad government results from
too much government.”
—–
“No free man shall ever be
debarred the use of arms.”
—-
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
——
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes,
the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors,
is sinful and tyrannical.”
——
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York, Inc., one of the nation’s largest wholesale produce distributors, has implemented a number of renovations and rebrands, plus a whole new side of business designed to take its operations to the next level.
Last January, the company purchased the John Georgallas Banana Distributors of New York, a company located just outside the Hunts Point Terminal Market and across the street. Georgallas was a long time banana company. Since the acquisition, D’Arrigo has been making major renovations of the facility. There are currently 13 ripening rooms providing space on-site for both organic and conventional bananas. Besides the ripening rooms for the bananas, there are two more rooms for plantains.
The changes are now allowing D’Arrigo to accelerate the growth its tropical department which was launched several years ago. With the acquired facility outside of the Hunts Point market, D’Arrigo now has more flexibility when handling product. At the Hunts Point Terminal Market’s cooperative, vendors can only sell fresh fruits and vegetables, while with D’Arrigo’s new operation just outside of the Hunts Point market, it can sell other products such as teas, juices or packets. D’Arrigo can now have the outside facility open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. This move has changed D’Arrigo’s business model, allowing it to compete with other markets that have those capabilities.
D’Arrigo also has constructed new stalls in its wholesale facility, which was accomplished in phases. This started with its fruit department and eventually included the company’s vegetable and other departments. It resulted in the first major facelift in many years.
These renovations will result in the company having an additional 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of space.
The final stage of the construction will be coming this fall with the addition of new sales booths. This construction will allow the company to become more efficient.
EAGLE, Idaho – The top teams from the Mountain West and Mid-American Conferences will go head to head on Friday, December 21st at the 22nd Annual Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl (FIPB).
Kickoff is 2:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. EST on the blue turf at Boise State University’s Albertsons Stadium; it will air live on ESPN. At the 2017 FIPB the Wyoming Cowboys (Mountain West Conference), defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas (Mid-American Conference), 37-14. More than two million fans nationwide watched it live on ESPN, along with NFL recruiters who kept a sharp eye on the game.
Wyoming’s quarterback Josh Allen was the Buffalo Bill’s first round pick, and seventh overall draft pick. Additionally, four other FIPB alum were recruited by the NFL this spring. The FIPB has a history of producing top athletes including:
- Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (Boston College)
- Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans (Western Michigan University)
- Mark Nzeocha, San Francisco 49ers (University of Wyoming)
- Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks (Central Michigan)
2018 marks the eighth year the IPC has been the naming sponsor of the premier cold-weather college football bowl game. “Pairing America’s favorite potato with one of America’s favorite sports has proven to be very effective,” explained Frank Muir, President & CEO, IPC. “The brand awareness this bowl game generates among our target audience across the country is enormous. And, that’s extremely important because it helps increase demand for Idaho® potatoes, the state’s most important agricultural crop. The potato industry generates more than $4.5 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 30,000 people.” The Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl is one of 35 bowl games ESPN will televise over 17 days. The Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. Tickets go on sale to the general public in September through www.ticketmaster.com or the Bronco Stadium ticket office at (208) 426-4737. For premium ticket packages and sponsorship information contact the Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl office at (208) 424-1011.
About The Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the IPC is a state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered certification mark that assures consumers are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation, and rich volcanic soil give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance, which differentiates them from potatoes grown in other states.
By Mucci Farms
Huron, Ohio — Mucci Farms announces that they are officially harvesting out of Phase 1 of their 60-acre greenhouse facility in Huron, Ohio. “After years of hard work and strategic planning, we’re excited to hit another milestone in the Mucci Farms story,” said Bert Mucci, CEO of Mucci Farms.
The entire 60-acre facility will be growing primarily Tomatoes On-the-Vine with some snack sized specialty tomatoes. The company also announced that the entire 60-acres will be equipped with supplemental High Powered Sodium (HPS) lighting in order to grow through the winter months allowing them to harvest Ohio grown tomatoes 365 days per year. “We chose tomatoes on-the-vine because of its high demand year round, particularly in the winter months,” said Joe Spano, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “With grow lights in the entire facility, it was important to have a product that was always in demand.”
Headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, this is Mucci Farms’ first expansion into the United States, where the majority of their product is distributed. “Expanding into Ohio allows us to reduce the food miles for our US retailers and gives US consumers their own locally grown vegetables,” explained Danny Mucci, President of Mucci International Marketing. “With such a high volume of our product already being shipped to the US, expanding into Huron was strategically done to improve efficiencies with logistics and food safety. Our proximity to market and avoiding a border crossing improves our opportunity to offer consumers with fresh, flavourful products with maximum shelf.” In addition to the remaining 36-acres of greenhouses being built in two remaining phases, Mucci Farms Ohio will include a 272,000 square foot distribution facility that will be operational this summer. Harvesting from the final two phases will begin in the spring of 2019 and 2020.
Owning and Operating over 200-acres of tomato, pepper, cucumber, lettuce and strawberry greenhouses in Kingsville, Ontario, Mucci Farms also markets on behalf of 700-acres across the continent.
By Allen Lund Company
La Cañada Flintridge Calif.: ALC Logistics, the software and LTL division of the Allen Lund Company has announced the consolidation of it’s full TMS offering, under the Alchemy brand. It is a software and transportation solution for the shipping industry, with a focus on perishable freight. ALC has been committed to the development of their TMS solution for years. Under the guidance of CIO, Chetan Tandon, the product offering is especially geared to the produce and perishable industry, however, it also offers options to shippers of all sizes and commodities. “From the time I began my career with Allen Lund Company, I found that they were always forward thinking with regard to technology. We’ve recognized the need for automation in this industry and I’ve had the privilege to develop our software, Alchemy, to support our customers’ specific needs,” stated Chetan. “We are consistently working on new features to make our customers business run as smoothly as possible.”
Alchemy incorporates shipper and carrier modules, freight audit and spot pricing options, load tendering, yard management, business intelligence reporting, and the most recent addition to Alchemy, dock scheduling. The evolution of the TMS through ALC Logistics now sets the standard for software solutions.
From Kenny Lund, VP ALC Logistics, “I am so pleased that we have a new name for our mature and stable transportation systems offering. We have earned our reputation with our customers as a premier provider of software and expertise to help them move billions of dollars’ worth of freight supported by systems that give more visibility and cost controls. We want the Alchemy brand to represent the standard for high quality, adaptable transportation solutions.”
About ALC Logistics:
ALC Logistics has been providing transportation software solutions to shippers since 1994. Operating under the Allen Lund Company, LLC umbrella, ALC Logistics is a separate business entity located in Charlotte, NC.
About Allen Lund Company:
Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 470 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to arrange dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC #019872NF. If you are interested in joining the Allen Lund Company team, please click here.
Established in 1976, the Allen Lund Company was selected as the 2017 Supply & Demand Chain Executive, 2017 Food Logistics 100+ Top Software and Tech Provider, a 2016 Top IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, 2015 Coca-Cola Challenger Carrier of the Year, 2015 Top Private Company in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2015 Top 100+ Software and Technology Providers, 2015 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, a 2014 Great Supply Chain Partner, and was placed in Transport Topics’ “2014 Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms.” The company manages over 365,000 loads annually in 2015, and received the 2013 “Best in Cargo Security Award.” In 2011 the company received the TIA 3PL Samaritan Award, and the NASTC (National Association of Small Trucking Companies) named Allen Lund Company the 2010 Best Broker of the Year. More information is available at www.allenlund.com.
By Ted Kreis – NPPGA Communications
Truck shortage cause shippers lost sales.
Marketers in the Red River Valley held the base price for #1 size A reds at or above $15 per hundredweight (cwt.) from September through February but a chain of events this spring sent the market on a big decline with some loads being sold as low as $8.00 per cwt. in mid-April. That is a 14-year low.
- 1. Big Crop – The Red River Valley had a big red potato crop, perhaps the largest since the 1970’s. Shippers knew it would be a challenge, but there was hope it may turn out okay like another big crop year, 2015-16. But one key event happened that year that baled the Red River Valley out; a crop disaster in Florida. That didn’t happen this year. With both regions having a large red crop, the late winter market became very competitive.
2. Transportation Shortage – There is a well-documented shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. for various reason. Areas outside busy shipping lanes, like us here in the Red River Valley, have been hit particulary hard. Finding trucks to move loads out of the valley has been exasperated by this year’s big crop.
3. Lost Business – Because of the inability to get trucks earlier in the season, ads with large retailers had to be turned down because shippers could not promise on-time deliveries. Multi-load sales opportunities for Thanksgiving and Christmas ads were lost. This likely led to the loss of return business for the remainder of the season. Retailers began running fewer red potato ads; statistics from AMS’s National Retail Report confirm this. A year ago, grocery retailers ran 96,201 red potato ads nationwide from October through February. This year they ran only 68,019, a 29 percent decline, or the loss of over 28,000 promotions!
The Northern Plains of North Dakota and Minnesota is the 3rd largest potato growing region in the country. Over 250 growers produce over 40 million hundredweight of potatoes a year. The region is the home of famous Red River Valley Red Potatoes, three french fry plants, two potato chip plants, several refrigerated product producers, and over 60 certified seed growers.
By the Washington Apple Commission
Wenatchee, Washington State, USA – In response to the Trump Administration’s tariffs on aluminum and steel, Mexico has announced effective immediately imports of apples from the U.S. would be subject to a retaliatory tariff of 20 percent. Under WTO rules, countries hit with unilateral tariffs are allowed to levy tariffs equivalent to the amount of injury. Apples are just one item on the list of U.S. products that Mexico is targeting.
Washington State, home to over 1,300 apple growers, is the source of almost all apple exports to Mexico. The state produces approximately 65 percent of all apples grown in the US and over 90 percent of U.S. fresh apple exports. Mexico is the top export market for Washington apples, and during the 2016-17 season Washington growers shipped 13.7 million 40 lb. bushel cartons valued at more than $215 million to the market. During the current season, shipments have been ahead of last season by 13 percent and were on track to exceed 15 million bushels, worth an estimated $241.8 million. This new tariff now puts that goal in doubt.
“Any tariff is clearly going to have economic impact to our industry – especially when you consider its cumulative effect along with the tariffs imposed by China and expected within the next few weeks from India, also major Washington apple export markets, in retaliation to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs” stated Todd Fryhover, the President of the Washington Apple Commission. “The economic impact to individual growers will vary depending on the strategic importance of Mexico to their sales, but collectively Washington apple growers will see a decrease in what they are paid for their crop due to the 20 percent duty.”
The Washington Apple Commission is the international marketing arm of the Washington apple industry and conducts promotions in foreign markets to drive consumer demand for apples from Washington State, USA. Washington Apple Commission provides promotional support to international retailers, wholesalers and importers with innovative marketing programs and activities to grow consumer awareness and brand loyalty.
Chocolate Peppers from Canada and tree tomatoes from Equador are two unique items coming to America!
by Zing! Healthy Foods
Leamington, ON – As summer approaches and people are entertaining more, why not impress your guests with a healthy dose of chocolate? Chocolate Bell Peppers that is. Zing! Healthy Foods has a great line up of specialty peppers, but the most unique is the Chocolate Bell.
“It’s not something you see every day in the produce aisle,” said Jordan Kniaziew, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Zing! Healthy Foods. “We are trying to turn more people on to this variety to add some Zing! to their meals and snacks.”
Zing! Healthy Foods gourmet Chocolate Bell Peppers are remarkable and sweet. The flesh inside is crisper and sweeter than a traditional bell pepper.
“Any pepper that looks so different from your classic bell pepper colours should have a unique taste and flavour profile. This pepper doesn’t disappoint,” adds Jordan. “The sweet taste and deep colour is ideal for those adventurous foodies who want to impress their guests with something unexpected.”
About Zing! Healthy Foods™
Zing! Healthy Foods is brought to you by Orangeline Farms, an award-winning, boutique grower of specialty greenhouse products. The family-oriented business operates year-round in Leamington, Ontario. They are committed to promoting active living and delivering healthy, nutritious produce to our communities.
Tree Tomatoes
By USDA, APHIS
Washington, D.C. – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will allow fresh tree tomatoes from Ecuador into the continental United States. After careful analysis, APHIS scientists determined that tree tomatoes can be safely imported under a systems approach.
A systems approach is a series of measures taken by growers, packers, and shippers that, in combination, minimize pest risks prior to importation into the United States. In this case, the systems approach requires the importation of commercial shipments only, orchard pest control, post-harvest safeguards, registration of orchards and packinghouses, and shipment identification. A phytosanitary certificate must also accompany each shipment stating that it meets these conditions.
This rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, or on July 5, 2018.