Fruit Growers News

Fresh-cut Remains Fastest-Growing Trend in Produce Industry

With $12 billion in annual sales, pre-cut, pre-washed and packaged fruits and vegetables remain the fastest growing segment in the produce sector, and the category still has plenty of room to grow, according to a new research report by the International Fresh-cut Produce Association (IFPA). IFPA’s “Fresh-cut Produce Fuels an America On-the-go,” is a comprehensive “state-of-the-industry” report exploring the current and future fresh-cut marketplace, growth drivers and facts and figures on the fresh-cut produce industry. The report was produced by PakIntell and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce. According to the report, packaged salads are the second-fastest selling item in U.S. grocery stores, with $2.6 billion in annual retail sales, followed by fresh-cut vegetables at $1.4 billion. The still-young fresh-cut fruit category, which reports $300 million in annual retail sales, is likely to surpass the $1 billion mark over the next three years to four years.…  » Read more

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Michigan Farm Family Celebrates 125 Years

The Hoffman family describes their farm on Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula as “a place to come home to.” And that’s a fitting description for the 125-year-old farm now operated by the fourth generation of family members. “The farm is a place for the whole family to come home to,” said Monica Hoffman, who owns the 78-acre farm with her husband, Bill. “During harvest, Bill’s sisters come home to help. It becomes a family weekend.” Bill and his sisters, Sara, Pat, Barb, Mary and Susan, are the great-grandchildren of John and Matilda Hoffman, who settled the Traverse City farm in 1879. John and Matilda began growing apples, cherries and potatoes on the land, farming until 1922 when their son William took over. William and his wife, Isma, ran the farm for 22 years. Their son Tom inherited it in 1944. Tom and his wife, Irene, ran the farm until…  » Read more

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New Crunch Pak Plant Adds Apple-Slicing Options

Crunch Pak’s new 7,000 square-foot slicing facility in Cashmere, Wash., is giving the company more options for its prepackaged sliced apples. Tony Freytag, Crunch Pak director, said the “completely-updated” facility has allowed the company to add diced apples and other items to its product mix. The new facility, part of Crunch Pak’s new 60,000 square-foot complex, began production in August. The company’s administrative offices will move to the site after Jan. 1. “With the new plant, we package diced apples for Arby’s, and other food services that use diced apples,” Freytag said. Arby’s uses the diced apples for its Martha’s Vineyard Salads and Chicken Salad Sandwich. Crunch Pak also has added organic sliced apples to its offerings. The slices are sold under Earthbound Farm and Whole Foods labels. Freytag said the new facility also allows for the automated packaging of sliced-apple trays. “The new plant gives us more flexibility…  » Read more

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New Secretary of Ag Should Have Rural Connections

There have been several speculations floating around this week about who will be the next secretary of agriculture. While it makes for great conversation, I’ve always found that those who are talking probably don’t know, and those who know probably aren’t talking… As President Bush seeks to replace Secretary Veneman, I hope he will find someone who has a connection to rural America, vast experience within the agricultural arena and credibility among farmers, ranchers and rural citizens. Most importantly, this individual must be someone with the fortitude to firmly stand up for rural interests to policymakers inside the administration and on Capitol Hill during the trying times to come. Undoubtedly, farm programs will be targeted to remedy the record federal budget deficit brought about by the war and past and future tax cuts, including the likely repeal of the federal estate tax that has an estimated…  » Read more

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Patience Pays Dividends During 108th Congress

One word comes to mind when analyzing Farm Bureau's accomplishments during the 108th Congress. That word is ``patience." And, as William Shakespeare wrote, ``Though patience be a tired mare… she will plod." Patience was vital over the last two years, as this session of Congress was seldom easy and, at times, even less expeditious. But, like Shakespeare's mare, Farm Bureau plodded onward, focused on our mission and public policy goals. In the end, with your steadfast support, we scored a number of clear and resounding victories to enhance America's farm and ranch businesses and improve the quality of life in rural America. A big win It pays to be patient. One of Farm Bureau's biggest victories of the entire two-year term occurred just as the 108th Congress was beginning to wind down. By passing the American Jobs Creation Act, Congress launched a comprehensive package of initiatives that will…  » Read more

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