Spokane Produce

April 22, 2013

Something To Think About

If there is no wind, row - Anonymous

April 22, 2013

Market News

Apricots, being vulnerable to frost and hail, have taken a hit from inclement weather in some growing areas over the last year or so. But the 2013 California fresh apricot crop, as of mid-April, was shaping up to be a full crop with good quality and ample promotional opportunities, according to growers in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where the majority of the nation’s fresh apricots are produced.
As peak production of artichokes began in California, early signs suggested better-than-average volumes could be available for retail shelves. “Quality is the best it’s been in several years and supplies are excellent,” Dale Huss, vice president of Ocean Mist Farms, said. “We’re excited about the possibilities, but when you’re a grower you don’t want to jinx it.”
A survey of shoppers in 58 countries across the globe revealed that fresh food continues to play an increasingly important role in the shopping decisions of most consumers. The Nielsen Shopper Trends Survey was a global study covering 54 markets with a total sample size of 87,000 respondents. The survey was conducted online or with face-to-face follow-up in home interviews. Results of the survey showed that shoppers across the globe consider fresh foods a very important driver in the shopping decision.

Source: The Produce News, The Packer

April 22, 2013

Produce of Interest

The Vidalia Onion Story takes root in Toombs County, Georgia over 60 years ago, when a farmer by the name of Moses Coleman discovered in the late spring of 1931 the onions he had planted were not hot, as he expected. They were sweet! It was a struggle to sell the onions at first, but Moses persevered, and managed to sell them for $3.50 per 50-pound bag, which in those days was a big price.

Other farmers, who through the Depression years had not been able to get a fair price for their produce, thought Coleman had found a gold mine. They began to follow suit, and soon after, their farms were also producing the sweet, mild onion.

In the 1940's, the State of Georgia built a Farmer's Market in Vidalia, and because the small town was at the juncture of some of South Georgia's most widely traveled highways, the market had a thriving tourist business. Word began to spread about "those Vidalia onions". Consumers, then, gave the onions their famous name. Reorders were made, and "Vidalia Onions" began appearing on the shelves of Piggly Wiggly and A & P grocery stores. Through the 1950s and 60s, production grew at a slow but steady pace, reaching some 600 total acres by the mid 1970s. At that point, a push was made for Vidalia Onions to be distributed throughout the nation, and several promotional efforts were begun. Onion festivals became an annual event in both Vidalia and nearby Glennville, Georgia, and production grew tenfold over the next decade.

Source: vidaliaonions.com

Spokane Produce has ‘New Crop’ fresh Vidalia Onions arriving this weekend. Call your sales person and order yours for next week. Be the first to get those customer sales.

April 22, 2013

The Next "Super Food?"

Purdue University nutrition researcher Berdine Martin sees potential for potassium to be the next "really hot" nutrient emphasized in food science. That would be good news for potato farmers, who produce a crop high in both vitamin C and potassium. Martin is assisting in potato research that she believes will provide the first data on the health benefits of potassium derived from a food source, rather than a vitamin supplement.
The study is funded by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education, which promotes research on the health benefits of potatoes and french fries. Martin argues research has largely neglected potassium, known to lower hypertension and improve heart health. "The potential for potassium is huge in terms of blood pressure," Martin said. When consumed in food, she expects the study will show potassium is more fully absorbed and lasts longer in the system, as it's slower to digest than supplements.

Source: Capital Press

July 25, 2012

Vendor Update

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Vendor Contact Update