Posts Tagged “feature”
Centuries ago, in the city of Nazareth, a good and kind young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph, the local carpenter. Mary was a saintly woman who lived every day in an effort to please God.
One day, God’s archangel Gabriel suddenly appeared before Mary in her home. “You are highly favored by God and are blessed among women” he said.
Mary was troubled and fearful, but the angel comforted her. “Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God. You shall give birth to a baby boy and you shall name him Jesus. He shall be great and his reign shall have no end.”
Mary looked at the angel with astonishment. “But how is this possible?” Mary asked. “I am not yet married.”
The angel quickly answered. “The Holy Spirit will perform a miracle, and the holy child born of this miracle shall be called the Son of God.”
To Mary’s surprise the angel had more exciting news. “Your cousin Elizabeth, whom many thought too old and incapable of having a child, is already in her sixth month with her son. For with God, nothing shall be impossible.”
Mary kneeled before the angel and bowed her head. “I am the Lord’s servant and believe all that has been told to me.”
The angel then disappeared, and Mary was once again alone.
* * * * * *
In those days the government of Rome, ruled by Caesar Augustus, decided to tax everyone in the world. All were required to return to their home town to be counted. So, Joseph left Nazareth with Mary, his betrothed, to be taxed in Bethlehem.
Mary was now great with child, and the long, hot and tiring trip to Bethlehem was a difficult one for her. Just after they arrived, Mary began to feel the pains of birth. Joseph pleaded with the local innkeeper to give them shelter, but no rooms were available. “But you may use the stable,” the innkeeper helpfully suggested. Faced with the imminent birth, Mary and Joseph settled down in the stable surrounded by curious animals.
That night, a blessed miracle happened. Baby Jesus was born! Mary cuddled her newborn son as Joseph looked on with wonder. After a while, they wrapped him in a blanket and placed him in a warm, straw-filled manger for all to honor.
The heavenly angels spread the word of this tiny Savior’s birth to shepherds and kings alike. All of those who heard the story rejoiced that Jesus, the King of Kings and the Son of God had come to cleanse the world of its sins.
Royalty and peasants, believers all, followed the star that shone over Bethlehem to offer gifts and kneel before the new born king.
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By CarbAmericas
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. — CarbAmericas, a premier importer of fresh fruits and vegetables, kicks off Florida broccoli shipments next week with a new season of growing in the Sunshine State. Broccoli shipments will continue through mid-April.
The Florida harvest complements the company’s established Mexico and East Coast offerings. This year, the Florida program accounts for more than 400 acres of their broccoli program, nearly doubling their volume from 2016. Growing in Florida allows CarbAmericas to offer a year-round broccoli program.
“Our location in North Florida places us at a perfect location for freight,” said Danny Pollak, vice president of sales of CarbAmericas. “We can utilize trucks coming from various locations south of us who have just come from loading produce such as blueberries and strawberries. We can be in cities like Boston and New York in a day and a half to two days and are able to provide our customers with a quicker and more efficient supply chain.””
“We’ve done a lot of research and continue to work closely with our seed partners to perfect the varieties for this climate,” said Jeff Friedman, president of CarbAmericas. “We currently grow seedlings in greenhouses which helps us get better yields and consistent sizing. We are also working with new seed varieties that we trialed last year and proved worthy of our program.”
Also on their side is their relationship with grower TJ Bratcher, whose family brings over 30 years of experience to the operation.
Later this month, CarbAmericas will begin building a packing plant which will be used to not only pack and ship broccoli but also other items such as cauliflower, potatoes, squash and cucumbers to name a few. The facility is projected to be completed by late summer 2018 and will be in full operation for next year’s December crop.
This season, CarbAmericas will ship Asian Cut Crown broccoli in wax boxes, iced from an onsite machine out of Bunnell, FL.
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About CarbAmericas
CarbAmericas was established in 1993 and is a vertically integrated, year-round supplier and importer of fruits and vegetables. Specializing in asparagus, broccoli, mangos, snow and sugar snap peas, CarbAmericas services both retail and foodservice in the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America.
The yellow dragon fruit (pitaya) from Ecuador is in the early stages of proving its appeal to the American consumer.
Since coming to the U.S. market for the first time this fall, the yellow-skinned, white-fleshed fruit has made strong early impressions, said Robert Schueller, director of public relations for World Variety Produce in Vernon, CA, which markets the Meliss’s brand.
“It is not a fruit that you can find at every store, and it is coming in on a limited basis,” Schueller said.
The fruit is expensive, selling at about $8 per pound.
“We will see if America will embrace it as we start to get distribution to major metropolitan areas,” he said.
HLB Specialties also started with its first shipments of yellow pitaya from Ecuador this fall, and excitement for the fruit is high, said Homero Levy de Barros, president and CEO of HLB Specialties LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
“We have been waiting for over 20 years for the ability to bring the yellow pitaya from Ecuador to the U.S.,” Levy de Barros said, noting that USDA cleared the fruit in October, just before the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit show and exhibition last October in New Orleans.
“Most people don’t know this fruit, and when they taste it they find it very refreshing and very sweet,” he said.
The fruit, boasting a brix (sweetness or sugar content) of 24, also is an excellent source of fiber, he said.
“The yellow pitaya is sweeter than its cousin in the cactus fig family, the red dragon fruit. The dragon fruit only has a brix between 8 and 10, so the yellow pitaya’s 24 brix score makes the taste difference like night and day,” Levy de Barros said.
The yellow pitaya is air-shipped to the U.S. and marketed in a 5.5 pound carton and sold year-round from Ecuador, he said.
Chilean avocado exports to the U.S. are projected to increase through next summer….Meanwhile, Florida grapefruit shipments may be the lowest in nearly a century….Better Florida produce shipping news coming with the new strawberry season.
Chilean avocado exports to all countries will reach 155,000 metric tons during 2018, which will be an increase of about 5 percent in shipments. Most Chilean avocados are shipped from August through May.
From January through September, Chilean avocado exports to all markets rose by 42.9 percent in volume and 61.7 percent in value.
The U.S. is the largest importer of Chilean avocados, account for about 30 percent of the South American country’s total exports, which was about 23,000 metric tons in 2017. Current season imports of Chilean avocados has soared this year, however, growing 158.5 percent in volume from January through September 2017 compared with the same period last year. Following the U.S., Chile’s top avocado export markets include the Netherlands, Argentina, China and the United Kingdom.
Florida Grapefruit Shipments
Shipments of Florida grapefruit are now projected to fall to the lowest in nearly 100 years.
Production could only reach 4.65 million boxes in the current crop year, which would be the lowest output since 1919, according to a USDA forecast last week. Texas is aiming to build up some lost output and next year could surpass Florida as the top grapefruit shipper for the first time. Still, the nationwide crop of 14.15 million boxes will be the smallest since 1930, less than half the harvest as recently as 2013.
Wish Farms Launches Strawberry Season
By Wish Farms
Plant City, FLA — Wish Farms, grower-shipper and year-round supplier of Florida strawberries has big plans for its new strawberry season.
“The recent cooler weather we’ve experienced is great for the berries and is helping us kick off Florida strawberry season,” said Gary Wishnatzki, owner of Wish Farms. “Consumers are seeing Florida fruit in stores now.”
Plant City, Florida is known as the winter strawberry capital of the world. Wish Farms is growing and marketing almost 2,000 acres of Florida strawberries this year. Florida’s season lasts from November through April, with peak production in February.
Wish Farms has dedicated a large portion of acreage to the Sweet Sensation, a University of Florida variety known to retain its sweetness by maintaining its sugar content and consistent brix (sugar) levels throughout the season.
By The Golden Gate Produce Market
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The Golden Gate Product Market, the largest and busiest produce terminal in Northern California, recently announced the completion of a major upgrade to the facility that included a series of infrastructure, environmental, food safety and traffic improvements.
The enhancements include installation of solar panels for the entire market, energy efficiency upgrades, improved cold chain food storage management and worker safety systems, as well as smoother traffic flow within the facility, which is a mile from San Francisco International Airport on Highway 101.
To recognize the completion of the project, the Market and Vista Solar, the Bay Area firm that designed and managed the installation of the solar panels, hosted a celebration with customers and employees recently. The event featured remarks from U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, South San Francisco Mayor Pradeep Gupta, and Produce Board Member Steve Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of Bay Area Herbs.
“The improvements to the Golden Gate Producer Market set the stage for our continued success for decades to come,” said Peter Carcione, President of the Golden Gate Produce Market. “These investments expand our capability to deliver the highest-quality fruits, vegetables and specialty produce to deliver to business and consumers across Northern California.”
The 742,000-square foot facility in South San Francisco currently employs 475 workers. Twenty-three independent and family-owned businesses operate at the Market, including wholesalers, jobbers, commission merchants, brokers, foodservice distributors, processors and one restaurant. More than 15 million packages move through the Market each year.
The enhancements were made after extensive market research and feedback with customers and businesses operating at the market. The Market’s seven-member board approved the following:
- The installation of solar panels that will virtually reduce the Market’s need to draw energy from the power grid
- Upgraded electronic, water and sewage systems
- Improved traffic flow within the facility
- A number of worker safety upgrades, including better lighting and loading dock safeguards
- Improved cold chain storage management to ensure quality, freshness and food safety
- A complete makeover of the building’s exterior, including new signage, and expanded parking
About The Golden Gate Produce Market
The Golden Gate Produce Market provides fruits and vegetables and specialty produce to more than 15 million people in Northern California. The Market specializes in providing product to a wide range of demographics, including Caucasian, Asian, Latino, India and Middle Eastern consumers.
The mid-season, and navel orange shipments forecast for Florida is now at 19 million boxes, down 10 percent from November and off 42 percent from a year ago.
The report from December 12th places the Florida orange forecast at 46 million 90-pound boxes, down 8 percent the November estimate and 33 percent lower than last season’s final shipments.
Florida’s valencia orange forecast, at 27 million boxes, is 7 percent lower than November and 24 percent down from last season, according to the USDA.
Florida grapefruit production was estimated at 4.65 million (85-pound) boxes, unchanged from November but down 40 percent from last season Now three months after Hurricane Irma, the crop shipping forecast reductions come as the Florida citrus industry seeks federal emergency funding to support growers hurt by the hurricane.
“This second reduction underscores the dire need for federal disaster assistance,” Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, said in a news release. “Florida citrus growers are making decisions on next season’s crop now and they need to know they have the support necessary to keep this American icon alive.”
In October, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimated that growers suffered more than $760 million in damages due to Hurricane Irma.
“This is exactly what we thought would happen as the true damage begins to rear its ugly head in the groves across Florida,” said Michael Sparks, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “Unfortunately the situation is going to get worse before it gets better; we think the actual size of the 2017-2018 crop will not be known until the season is over and all the fruit is picked”
Sparks said the latest estimates are evidence that Congress needs to pass a citrus relief package so Florida growers can rebuild.
In the December crop production report, California and Texas orange production forecasts were carried forward from November and were not changed, the USDA said.
Florida’s total orange shipments are still slightly ahead of California. According to the December crop estimate, Florida will produce 2.07 million tons of oranges in 2017-18, slightly more than the 1.84 million tons of oranges forecast in California.
There are a lot more apples remaining to be shipped in the U.S. compared to this time last year, thanks mostly to Washington state.
New York Apple Shipments
New York state’s apple shippers expect apple supplies for the Christmas and New Year holidays to be good with good quality, variety selection and quantity.
The Empire State had 11.5 million bushels in storage for shipping on November. 1st. The U.S. Apple Association’s monthly Market News reported ample supplies remain of best known and most popular New York varieties, including Empire and McIntosh, as well as consumer favorite Gala, as well as Rome and Idared. The preseason forecast saw a crop amounting 28 million bushels.
While more over 50 percent of the New York crop has been shipped, apple shippers contend there will be good supplies to meet year-end holiday demand.
More U.S. Apples Remain in Storage
As of December 1st, more apples in the U.S. for the fresh market remained to be shipped than at this same time last year — 9 percent more to be precise.
The U.S. Apple Association’s report for December observes apples remaining to be shipped are 16 percent more than the five-year average.
Apples for processing remaining in storage totaled 51.5 million (bushel) cartons, 20 percent more than last year and a whopping 21 percent above the five-year average.
At 115.97 million cartons, Washington state apples alone accounted for 88 percent of the entire U.S. fresh apple remaining to be shipped. Michigan accounted for 3 percent remained to be shipped, while New York state has 5 percent.
Variety count
The report said U.S. fresh varieties in storage on December 1st, compared with last year at the same time, were:
- Red delicious: 31.52 million cartons, down 11 percent;
- Gala: 24.77 million cartons, up 8 percent;
- Honeycrisp: 8.7 million cartons, up 56 percent;
- Granny smith: 16.69 million cartons, up 38 percent:
- Fuji: 15.08 million cartons, up 12 percent;
- Pink Lady/cripps pink: 4.952 million cartons, down 9 percent.
Yakima Valley Washington apples – grossing about $7900 to New York City.
There’s probably no single California produce item having more truck loads per week than table grapes, although this should be changing soon as volume is headed towards a season ending slide. Still, San Joaquin Valley shippers loaded about 975 truck loads last week. The first Chilean grapes to arrive at Philadelphia by boat are expected the week of December 18th.
In the Southern San Joaquin Valley in the Bakersfield area, there is pretty steady movement of carrots averaging around 375 truck loads weekly.
As the seasonal shift of vegetable shipments is nearly completed from the Salinas Valley, light volume of items ranging from broccoli to cauliflower has started from Central and Western Arizona. Heavier volume already is underway, particularly from the Yuma area with lettuce. The combination of head lettuce, as well as romaine and leaf lettuce totaled nearly 2500 truck loads last week and volume is still increasing.
Low Tomato Shipments
Thanks to Hurricane Irma last September, Florida tomato shipments this season are down 54 percent compared to the same time a year ago. Florida, as of December 9th has shipped 3.44 million cartons, down 54 percent from 7.4 million cartons in 2106. For example, Florida tomato shipments the week of December. 3-9 totaled 500,000 cartons, down over 65 percent compared with 1.492 million cartons the same week last year.
The USDA reports total supply of domestic and imported tomatoes the week of Dec. 3-9 was 1.9 million cartons, down 25 percent from 2.56 million cartons the same week a year ago.
Tomato prices at shipping point had hit $35 in mid-December resulting in high prices at retail stores and resulting in fewer sales as consumers balked at the high prices. The f.o.b. (shipping point) price for central and south Florida tomatoes on Dec. 12 was $37.95 per carton for some mature green tomatoes, four times higher than the $8.95 per carton the same time a year ago.
Cold weather in central and eastern parts of the country limited some Mexican tomato shipments coming through south Texas in early December. For imports coming in through Nogales, tomato shipments from Sinaloa, Mexico should experience significant volume increases in January.
Florida may not have normal tomato shipments until mid-January.
By Murray Wise Capital LLC
OXNARD, Calif. — Superior Fruit LLC has entered into an agreement with Eclipse Berry Farms LLC, advised by Murray Wise Capital LLC, to assume certain agricultural leases to expand its California strawberry growing operations. Superior has been formed by Bobby Jones and his brother RC Jones, long-term California growers, and will begin farming operations in Oxnard, Santa Maria and Castroville, California.
Founded in the early 1990’s by Norman Gilfenbain and Robert Wiviott, Eclipse Berry Farms is one of the largest vertically integrated grower, packer, shipper, marketer and processors of fresh-picked strawberries. Mr. Gilfenbain, who managed the day to day business of the Company until his death in 2013, started marketing produce under Eclipse’s Cal Fruit label in 1963. Mr. Wiviott then succeeded Gilfenbain as the CEO of the Company until he passed away in January of this year.
According to Rudy Garza, President & CFO of Eclipse Berry Farms, “This transaction with Superior Fruit is the first step towards an orderly downsizing of the Company’s operations. The management and employees of Eclipse look forward to working closely with Bobby and his team to ensure a smooth transition of these leases. At this time, Eclipse will continue growing, marketing and selling berries from Santa Maria, Castroville and Mexico and processing and marketing fruit from its Oxnard and Castroville facilities.”
Eclipse Berry Farms was advised on this transaction by Robert Marcus Esq., Chief Restructuring Officer for the Eclipse Berry Farms and Murray Wise Capital LLC as exclusive financial advisor.
By Eco Pack Systems
Eco Pack Systems, a groundbreaking maker of transport packaging, is rolling out its new low-weight container solution to the US market. The new container, which made its debut recently at the PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans, enables fully customizable point of purchase branding, dramatically reduces transportation costs and is made from food grade material. It maximizes food safety, reduces product spoilage and damage with maximum airflow control and is the most sustainable packaging solution available today.
The patented Eco Pack system consists of an easy-to-assemble plastic frame and two lightweight plastic sleeves that together create an economical, multipurpose, recyclable box. The frame has the same dimensions as standard paperboard cartons and plastic crates, and is suitable for palletizing. The bags are customized for specific commodity and product application, and designed for optimal ventilation, hygiene, food safety and waste reduction. There are currently multiple sizes with three base dimensions at several heights, plus a unique tray for bananas. Additional sizes can be produced upon request. “The Eco Pack box is efficient, clean, has multiple uses and is recyclable. It’s perfect for fresh produce retailers, grower/shippers, exporters and other distributors and suppliers. We believe it provides a financially preferable alternative to the paperboard boxes and plastic crates now prevalent in the industry,” said Danny Bartal, CEO of Eco Pack Systems.
Benefits of the Eco Pack solution include:
- Recyclable – 100% reusable packaging that can be recycled indefinitely
- Weight – 50% less than similar cardboard or plastic packaging
- Economical – 30%-70% lower cost than competing packaging systems, as the frame is reusable and only the recyclable sleeves need to be replaced
- Hygienic – New, clean box every time, with an optional fully organic biodegradable sleeve
- Green – Lower energy requirements for production and in transportation than any other solution
- Versatile – Suitable for a wide variety of products, including fruit, vegetables, seafood, baked goods, dairy and fresh meat and poultry.
- Customizable – Fully adaptable sleeves for a wide variety of merchandising applications.
About Eco Pack Systems
Founded in 2008, Eco Pack Systems is a privately held company that markets a unique, patented container solution to the extended retail supply chain. The solution offers users cleaner, greener and healthier transportation of fresh and processed foods at a reduced cost.