Archive For The “News” Category
By Farmer’s Best
Nogales, Ariz. – Farmer’s Best, a major produce grower in Mexico and distributor in the United States, is only one month into harvesting its summer squash crop and is producing a strong, consistent volume.
“We are very pleased with the quality and production of our gray, yellow and Italian squash this season,” says Leonardo Tarriba, Farmer’s Best general manager. “They have exceeded our standards and continue to grow to impressive, beautiful sizes.”
Farmer’s Best Italian, gray and yellow squash, more commonly referred to as “summer squash,” began their season in October. Squash plants started growing in greenhouses on the west coast of Mexico and were transferred in temperature-controlled trucks with GPS capabilities to fields where they continue growing.
Farmer’s Best incorporates sustainable practices throughout the growing, harvesting, packing and shipping operations re-using, re-purposing and recycling all possible materials. Solar panels are placed at facilities and on fields to offset emissions and energy use. Water is recycled and reused during the growing processes for all produce.
Farmer’s Best summer squash is all grown in Mexico and distributed from centers in Nogales, AZ and McAllen, TX to the contiguous U.S. and parts of Canada. Farmer’s Best grower, Agricola Don Roberto, and associate grower, Bay Brand, are producing a high volume that ensures plenty of supplies. The squash season ends in mid-June.
About Farmer’s Best
Farmer’s Best has been bringing the finest fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, restaurants and family tables for more than 50 years. Founded in 1966, this multi-generational, quality-focused, family company knows that food is about family. Health, safety and satisfaction drive fresh produce choices year-round. Farmer’s Best grows produce in fully-certified fields using the most advanced technologies and environmentally sound, sustainable practices.
Best-known food retailers rely on award-winning Farmer’s Best for all the right reasons. Farmer’s Best packs and distributes its full line of fresh produce from Mexico with standards that meet and commonly exceed USDA requirements. With its trusted highest quality produce, consumers know and ask for the Farmer’s Best brand.
For more information on Farmer’s Best, visit www.farmersbest.com.mx.
While U.S. exports were flat in 2016, U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables growth hit double-digit rates.
Imports of fresh fruits were up 10 percent, amounting to $12.4 billion in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while the value of imports of fresh vegetables rose 14 percent to $8 billion. Last year, Mexico supplied 70 percent of the total U.S. vegetable imports and 31 percent of all U.S. fruit imports, according to the USDA. Chile supplied 17 percent of U.S. fruit imports in 2016. Canada was a major supplier of fresh vegetables, with 16 percent of all U.S. fresh vegetable imports in 2016.
In 2016, U.S. exports of fresh fruits were unchanged from 2015 at $4.5 billion, according to the USDA. U.S. exports of fresh vegetables rose 2percent to $2.4 billion in 2016. Canada purchased 75 percent of U.S. vegetable exports and 36 percent of U.S. fruit exports in 2016; Mexico purchased 11 percent of U.S. fruit exports and 4 percent of U.S. vegetable exports, according to USDA statistics.
Top Banana
The USDA reported the top U.S. imported fresh produce item for 2016 was bananas, at a value of $2.67 billion, up 1 percent from 2015. Ranking second, were fresh tomato imports that totaled $2.26 billion in 2016, up 17 percent from the previous year.
Berry imports in 2016 (excluding strawberries) hit $2.05 billion, up 11 percent from 2015.
U.S. avocado imports also rose sharply in 2016, totaling $1.91 billion, up 18 percent from 2015.
Other leading produce imported commodities for 2016 were:
- grapes: $1.5 billion, up 12 percent;
- peppers: $1.46 billion, up 20 percent;
- citrus: $937 million, up 9 percent;
- fresh/frozen strawberries: $745 million, up 22 percent;
- melons: $710 million, up 16 percent;
- cucumbers: $690 million, up 12 percent:
- fresh/frozen pineapples: $668 million, up 3 percent; and
- asparagus: $630 million, up 12 percent.
Apples Fade
The top U.S. export commodity for 2016 was apples, according to the USDA. Exports of fresh apples totaled $921 million in 2016, off 10 percent compared with the previous year.
The number two export item was grapes, with 2016 value of $785 million, up 5percent compared with 2015.
Other top U.S. fresh produce exports in 2016 were:
- oranges and tangerines: $700 million, up 13 percent;
- berries: $686 million, unchanged;
- cherries: $476 million, up 11 percent;
- lettuce: $465 million, down 10 percent;
- potatoes: $203 million, up 11 percent; and
- onions: $192 million, up 17 percent.
A Florida port experiences a record month for imports, while another acquisition occurs in the citrus shipping industry.
Central and South American fresh produce imports have been credited with causing a record breaking month – December -for Port Everglades in Florida’s Broward County. Those imports have been steadily increasing, according to port officials.
Port Everglades had volume of 104,590 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), according to a news release, making December the highest output month in the port’s 90-year history.
December’s volume was 15 percent over December 2015.
“Our customers are bringing in higher volumes of consumer goods such as produce, clothing and household goods as the region’s population increases,” Port Everglades chief executive and port Director Steven Cernak said in the release. “It’s an indication of a strengthening economy.”
A good part of the increase is due to shipments from perishable products from Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Other regions also showed increases, Cernak said.
“Port Everglades helped spearhead a pilot program to bring refrigerated produce from South America directly to Florida, when it was previously restricted to only coming into northern U.S. ports,” Jim Pyburn, Port Everglades director of business development, said in the release. “The pilot program was a great success and now we are seeing a wider variety of produce coming to South Florida faster and fresher than when it was trucked here from the Northeast.”
Wonderful Citrus acquires DNE
Wonderful Citrus of Delano, CA has acquired citrus marketer DNE World Fruit of Ft. Pierce, FL, citrus exporter DNE International and the assets of World Pack Cold Storage, a division of DNE Imports.
Wonderful Citrus is now the top importer of counter-seasonal citrus products in the U.S. since the purchase and the move doubles the company’s grapefruit position, according to a news release. Along with DNE’s citrus marketing and import business, Wonderful acquires World Pack’s distribution center in New Jersey.
This will not be the first time Wonderful is importing citrus. The company had trials in previous years and last year, for the first time, created programs from countries including Chile, Peru, Australia and South Africa.
DNE has imported from those countries as well as others.
Two of the nation’s largest family-run organic fresh produce operations have joined forces to build a state-of-the-art cooling and distribution facility in Yerington, NV.
First announced in December 2016, Walker River Cooling will service retailers, processors, wholesalers and other buying organizations throughout North America. Construction of the facility broke ground in early September 2016 and is on track to open in May 2017.
Two major goals of the new operation are sustainability and positive economic impact. “The Peri and Nunes families’ 40-plus years of cooling experience and industry knowledge has gone into developing a best-of-class facility in terms of cooling mechanisms, temperature control, product flow and industrial safety and food safety,” Tom Nunes V said in a press release.
The combined operations of the two companies have brought over 800 jobs to Lyon County to date, with additional job growth projected upon completion of the new distribution facility.
“This venture is a great example of the success we’re witnessing across Nevada. I am proud to congratulate and thank this hometown company for investing in the region and bringing good paying jobs to Lyon County,” Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said in the release. “The commitment of these two family-run companies shows their ability to creatively and strategically meet the demands of the marketplace. Nevada is proud to be a part of this vision and the positive impact it will have on our community.”
by Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
LEAMINGTON, ON – Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) has recently launched their annual winter cucumber program “Always in Season.” This program signifies the ramp up of production for all varieties of Ontario greenhouse grown seedless cucumbers and informs Ontario consumers of their availability during the cold winter months.
The growing demand for Ontario greenhouse seedless cucumbers is motivated by consumers’ healthy eating choices. Our growers have increased production to ensure the supply is abundant for Ontario consumers and retailers.
“Consumers can once again find fresh, tasty Ontario greenhouse cucumbers in their local stores” said OGVG General Manager, Rick Seguin. “There’s no need to wait”.
This program is supported by key Canadian retailers. This year’s campaign includes new recipe ideas, retailer flyer ads indicating product of Canada and a media campaign designed to raise awareness of availability of locally grown greenhouse seedless cucumbers. For new recipes and other meal ideas visit www.OGVG.com.
About OGVG
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) is a not-for-profit association, representing over 200 growers who grow greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers on over 2,850 acres in
IRVINE, Calif. — Gem Pack LLC is a new company that will be marketing strawberries the year around and has been formed by three Irvine-based family strawberry growers.
The fruit will be shipped by Orange County Produce LLC, Fujishige Farms Inc. and Mike Etchandy Farms Inc. under the Gem Pack label. All sales and shipping for the three companies are now being handled by Gem Pack.
However, Orange County Produce, Fujishige Farms and Mike Etchandy Farms will retain their own identities as they continue their strawberry growing operations. The move is a matter of survival. For example, Orange County Produce was launched as a small company, but has grown and has made the change to become more competitive in the marketplace.
Gem Pack sources from 1,000 acres in central Mexico, 500 acres in Watsonville, 800 acres in Oxnard (200 summer-planted and 600 winter-planted) and 200 acres in Orange County. The company also has 100 acres of organic strawberries in Watsonville and Orange County.
The father’s of the three operations have a long history of cooperation, since the growers’ dads were partners. Each family owned business is in its third generation.
Gem Pack will market all the berry brands from the three companies as well as the Healthy Harvest label from the Gonzales family in Watsonville. Labels include Orange County Produce, Ventura County and Opus/Frosun out of Mexico.
Eventually, the company may consolidate into a single label, but for now, the local labels will remain intact for the benefit of retailers who prefer to emphasize locally grown strawberries.
The Gem Pack label was created for the benefit of retail customers who prefer an exclusive label year-round. Many customers such as retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operations are seeking suppliers to provide product 12 months out of the year.
Orange County Produce will continue to grow and market vegetables and green beans under its own label.
by Grant J. Hunt Company
OAKLAND, CA – Grant J. Hunt Company, an Oakland, California-based produce distribution firm, has announced that Grant J. “Jim” Hunt, Jr. has died at the age of 94.
Mr. Hunt graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1943.
Mr. Hunt joined Grant J. Hunt Company in 1946 after his rehabilitation from wounds received in battle during World War II in France during the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Hunt took the helm of the company in 1949 after the sudden death of the company founder, Grant J. Hunt, Sr. where he served as company President for decades until his retirement in 1992.
Mr. Hunt spent many hours outside of his career pursuing volunteer work; particularly in areas working with youth. He served as Scoutmaster for many years with the Boy Scouts of America followed service on the Board of Directors of Piedmont Council. Mr. Hunt was awarded the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts for positively impacting the lives of youths that he led.
Mr. Hunt served on many Board positions of the Produce Marketing Association including leading the association as President in 1981. His model of service to PMA carried through to his son Grant M. Hunt, who served as PMA Chair in 1999. To date, they are the only father-son duo to ever serve in the Board President/Chair capacity. Under Jim Hunt’s leadership, PMA’s three divisions (retail, foodservice and floral) developed policies to enhance the growth of the industry; particularly meant to attract youth to the produce industry which was his passion.
“Jim Hunt had already completed his term as Chairman of the PMA Board when I joined the association in 1983. Nonetheless, he took the time to school me in the workings of our industry and the lessons he had learned throughout his career. Jim’s unselfish service to the industry he loved is one reason I was so pleased to visit him just weeks ago at his home, where he reminisced so lucidly on shared experiences. Like his son Grant, another PMA Chairman of the Board, Jim understood so well the mutual benefit that flows from leadership service to others across an industry” stated Bryan Silbermann, Retired PMA CEO.
Mr. Hunt was the recipient of The Packer’s Produce Man of the Year Award in 1978 in recognition of his efforts with other Bay Area leaders to eradicate corruption involving the unloading of produce trucks at wholesale markets in Northern California.
Mr. Hunt was very active with St. Helena Catholic Church serving on the Parish Council and the School Board. He also volunteered with many of the youth activities continuing his passion for developing youth talents.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for April 5 at St. Helena Catholic Church in St. Helena, CA.
(Editor’s Note: We all have mentors in life. Jim Hunt was my mentor. For those of you who subscribe to Haulproduce.com and find its information helpful in your business, you can thank in part Mr. Jim Hunt. I was a young editor for a produce publication called The Packer during the ’70s. I wrote a 3-part series on the horrendous treatment of truckers delivering produce to the produce market in South San Francisco. Teamster unloaders (also called swampers in those days) were fleecing, threatening drivers and delaying unloading of their trucks when they refused to pay kick backs, and extracting exorbitant unload fees.
Jim Hunt would offer to go on the market as I did my investigative reporting to make sure no harm would come to me. I would call him at home from my hotel room at night with all kinds of questions. He was a wholesaler in Oakland, just across the San Francisco Bay and did business with wholesalers in South San Francisco. Yet, he was not concerned with the loss of business for helping this young reporter and helping expose the corruption. His first concern was how produce truckers were being mistreated. We all need heroes and mentors – Jim Hunt was mine. — Bill Martin)
By Fresh Solutions Network
San Francisco, CA – Fresh Solutions Network recently announced packaging design award from Graphic Design USA, American Packaging Design Awards. The award celebrates the Side Delights® Flavorables™ fresh potato package design, with its vibrant color palette and bold flavor profiles, encouraging an exciting potato choice.
“Capitalizing on consumer flavor trends that are HOT, HOT, HOT, we challenged the design team to communicate the bold flavor combinations while providing package designs that would be just as stimulating visually on the shelf,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, “We designed the packaging for a consumer that wants to be excited about their food choices and who loves the convenience of preparing quick, healthy, flavor forward meals.”
The American Package Design Awards challenge entrants to “convey the message, promote the brand, and close the deal.” Winners are chosen not just on visual design, but how the product and packaging address specific market trends, marketing objectives, and target markets.
Side Delights® Flavorables™ are high quality, triple-washed, Red and Yellow petite potato varieties featuring sachets of delicious, Smokin’ Tomato, Malaysian Curry, and Chimichurri spice blends. These potatoes come in a one-pound microwaveable tray.
The packaging was designed to appeal particularly to the adventurous millennial consumers who are frequently seeking out new and bold flavor experiences. With clearly marked labeling for consumers interested in vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, alternatives, these side dishes are guaranteed to satisfy consumers looking for a fresh alternative to the same old potato choices.
About Fresh Solutions Network, LLC: Fresh Solutions Network is a group of family owned growers and shippers who choose to work together to make the potato and onion industry better for everyone. FSN helps fresh potato and onion buyers grow their categories, maximize category investment, and increase sales. FSN delivers category insights, collaborative innovation and customized assortment. Fresh Solutions Network, LLC partners are: Sterman Masser, Inc. (Masser Potato Farms and Keystone Potato Products in Sacramento and Hegins, PA), Michael Family Farms, Inc. (Urbana, OH), Basin Gold Cooperative, Inc. (Pasco, WA), Green Thumb Farms, Inc. (Fryeburg, ME), Red Isle Potato Growers, Ltd. (Prince Edward Island, Canada), NoKota Packers, Inc. (Buxton, ND), Sun-Glo of Idaho, Inc. (Sugar City, ID) and Mack Farms (Lake Wales, FL).
An interactive online game featuring Ernie the Elephant fromWonderful Pistachios, Los Angeles, is launching Destroy Ernie’s Evidence.
Voiced by wrestling celebrity John Cena, players help Ernie destroy incriminating evidence from a party with the Squirrel Sisters the evening before in a series of online games that will be released every two weeks.
“Ernie’s influence has already led to pistachios’ sales volume increasing by more than 35 percent,” Adam Cooper, vice president of marketing at Wonderful Pistachios, said in a news release. “Whether you are throwing an Ernie-sized party to watch your favorite sport or playing our ‘Destroy Ernie’s Evidence’ game, Wonderful Pistachios is the smart snack to satisfy your cravings without compromising your healthy eating goals.”
The company is offering more than $100,000 in prizes, including a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and a trip for four to the Coachella Music Festival.
“From partying with the Squirrel Sisters to inadvertently trashing a treadmill on Super Bowl Sunday, Ernie the Elephant has won the hearts of pistachio lovers everywhere with his larger-than-life personality,” Michael Perdigao, president at Wonderful Agency, the company’s in-house advertising and communications agency. “Now fans can fully engage with Ernie by joining him on a journey to uncover what actually happened on his wild night through this one-of-a-kind interactive gaming experience.”
Consumers can visit helpernie.com for more information on the game and prizes.
About Wonder Pistachios
The Wonderful Company is a privately held $4 billion company committed to offering high-quality, healthy brands and helping consumers make better choices, every day.
We grow, harvest, bottle, package, and market a diverse range of healthy products, including fruits, nuts, flowers, water, wines and juices. The Wonderful Company’s diverse holdings make it the world’s largest grower of tree nuts, America’s largest citrus grower, and the world’s largest flower delivery service with the Teleflora network of florists.
We believe there is incredible power in the Wonderful family of brands to inspire healthier choices and to support our communities. By helping nourish our neighbors with high-quality, healthy products, we believe we can grow a better worl
Loxahatchee, FL – J&J Family of Farms® is always looking for ways to attract and bring value to its customers. This season, J&J is doing just that, with the introduction of its Field-Grown Colored Pepper program. The company plans to keep fulfilling consumer demand in new and innovative ways with the new product line.
J&J Family of Farms worked closely with Seminis® in order to bring customers and consumers a unique Field-Grown Colored Pepper that has thick walls and a long shelf life. Seminis is known to bring the latest product offerings to the market.
This growing season has resulted in good crops and excellent yields in Florida. The new Field-Grown red and yellow pepper are available now.
“We are constantly looking to perfect our produce year after year, and we are confident that we have the best colored pepper variety in the market.” said Chris Coffman, Sr. VP, Marketing and Strategy for J&J. “We are excited to bring our Field-Grown Colored Peppers to the market. It’s dense and yields a higher net weight, making it excellent for processors. We believe it’s going to take time to educate our customers about this new Field-Grown Colored Pepper, but once they have it in their hands, they will experience the quality and great taste for themselves.”
About J&J Family of Farms:
Established in 1983, J&J Family of Farms specializes in growing cucumbers, bell peppers, squash, green beans and eggplant. J&J manages over 14,000 acres of production from its own farms and partners, and has operations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arizona and Mexico.
About Seminis Vegetable Seeds:
For over 150 years, the Seminis legacy has focused on producing the best vegetable seed varieties for growers to use in farming operations around the world. We are proud to support our grower partners by continuously developing new seed varieties through our global research and development team and specialty breeders, and by providing ongoing agronomic solutions to unique farming challenges.
by Veg-Fresh Farms
Corona, CA – For the second year in a row, Veg-Fresh Farms is supporting NASCAR K&N Pro Series West competition driver Blaine Perkins as a season sponsor.
Perkins, the teenaged son of Ryan Perkins, director of sales at Bakersfield stalwart Delano Farms, will be driving for his second year under the tutelage of veteran NASCAR driver Steve Portenga. In 2016 (his rookie season), Perkins tallied ten top-10 finishes in fourteen appearances and has been dubbed “a rising star” by NASCAR journalists.
With this sponsorship, Veg-Fresh Farms will place the logo of its organic brand, Good Life Organic™, on the hood of Perkins’ race car. Other sponsors include Four Star Fruit, Golden Gate Meat Company, and Double Eagle Produce.
“We’re excited to partner again with Veg-Fresh Farms along with all our other great sponsors –they help make each season possible. We’re looking forward to having our friends at Veg-Fresh cheering Blaine on at our Irwindale race coming up March 25!” said Ryan Perkins at Delano Farms.
“We’re proud to support Blaine in another year of his racing career. Not only do we see this as an excellent way to honor our friendship and partnership with the Delano Farms team, but we also see value in getting our organic brand in front of Blaine’s fans and social media followers. That generation is queued to be the next one making purchase decisions at the store, so we’re excited about the idea of getting in front of them now,” said Dino Cancellieri, General Partner at Veg-Fresh Farms.
The 2017 K&N Pro Series season kicked off in February, with more races scheduled throughout the spring, summer, and late fall. Perkins’ races will be broadcast live on NBC Sports throughout the season.
About Blaine Perkins Racing
Born and bred in Southern California’s Bakersfield region, 16-year old Blaine Perkins is a full-time driver of the #21 car in the NASCAR K&N West Series Championship under the leadership of Steve Portenga. Perkins finished 9th overall in points for the NASCAR K&N West Series, and boasted ten top-10 finishes and one top-5 finish in 2016.
About Veg-Fresh Farms
Veg-Fresh Farms is a third-generation, family-run agribusiness, currently providing fresh produce to national food service chains and national retailers under the Veg-Fresh Farms, Crystal Cove Berry Farms, and Good Life Organic™ labels. https://vegfresh.com