Nogales Spring Vegetables:
Keeping the US Supplied

By Bob Johnson

Jalapeno peppers, tomatillos and Mexican gray squash are coming across the border in record numbers. And organic vegetables, grown in Mexico and shipped through Nogales to US consumers, are also reaching record volumes. But most of all Mexico remains established as the major source of vegetables to the US in the old months of late winter and early spring. more...

Produce Pavilion At NGA
Planned To Expand In 2013

By Oscar Katov

When a group of produce marketing executives comes together with a group of grocers in a first-time event of mutual interest, do both groups equally enjoy the benefits? Here’s one appraisal offered by a produce executive who participated in the first-ever produce pavilion of the Produce Marketing Association at the National Grocers Association convention, February 13-15 in Las Vegas:

“Well, it wasn’t exactly like Dancing With The Stars, cheek-to-cheek, but the show offered produce exhibitors the opportunity for direct contact with independent retailers whom we rarely see — and it was valuable contact for the grocers, too!” more...

 

Merchandising Greenhouse Produce

By Carol Bareuther, RD

"Greenhouse-grown produce is like any other category in that it is driven by regular assortment rationalization, placement of product in the department and space allocation, as well as consistent category pricing and promotions,” says Ken Green, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Westmoreland Sales, in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.

CREATE CATEGORY DISPLAYS: There was once a time when all greenhouse-grown produce was grouped together on display. Not anymore. “At The Fruit Bowl,” says David Goldberg, general manager of the single produce store located on St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, “we merchandise our greenhouse tomatoes by color breaks and by the use of dividers on the same central display table we sell all of our tomatoes.” more...

 

The Food Safety Conundrum for Small Growers

By Jodean Robbins

The popular focus on local sourcing has put smaller growers in the spotlight, yet success can be a double-edged sword, as those same growers must now implement effective food safety measures. “We know local, smaller growers, in particular, can find food safety a daunting issue,” says Bob Whitaker, chief science and technology officer for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) in Newark, DE. “Despite the challenges, it is important for operations of all sizes to have risk- and science-based food safety programs in place.” more...