John Mackey Of Whole Foods Announced As Keynote Speaker For SEPC’s Southern Exposure 2018

December 1, 2017 Southeast Produce Council

President and CEO of the SEPC, David Sherrod, states, “We are honored this year to have John Mackey share his insights on how the landscape will change and remain the same with the Whole Foods and Amazon merger. This exciting Keynote session should provide relevant information for all of our attendees, no matter what sector they represent.”

Duncan Family Farms Expands Innovative Composting Program

December 1, 2017 Duncan Family Farms

Duncan Family Farms, a leading grower of organic baby lettuces and greens, kales and herbs with operations in Arizona, California, Oregon and New York, is actively expanding its innovative composting program. Developed at the company’s Goodyear, AZ location decades ago and one of the largest privately-run operations of its kind in the Southwestern U.S., the program is now being replicated at other Duncan Family Farms growing sites around the country.

Frieda’s Predicts 2018 Will Be The Year Of Jicama

December 1, 2017 Frieda’s Inc.

Supermarket shoppers will be perusing the produce aisles in search of new flavors and food experiences in 2018. Brick-and-mortar retailers with the right item mix can take advantage of this experiential path to purchase in ways that no online shop can offer.

Branch Is Excited To Head Into Another Successful Leafy Vegetable Season

December 1, 2017 Branch

“We are extremely grateful to have escaped major damage unlike others who were impacted by the hurricane,” says Brett Bergmann, president of Branch. “As we look ahead to our leafy vegetable season, we expect to see increased demand due to excitement around our regional offerings, as well as advantages for our customer’s in freshness and overall delivered cost."

APHIS Publishes Final Rule To Allow Importation Of Fresh Mango Fruit From Vietnam 

December 1, 2017 USDA APHIS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending its regulations to allow the importation of fresh mango fruit from Vietnam into the continental United States. After analyzing the potential plant pest risks, APHIS scientists determined that mangos from Vietnam can be safely imported under a systems approach.