Latest News From VEGETABLES

A proposed rule from the USDA would implement a recommendation from the South Texas Onion Committee to increase the assessment rate by 3 cents.

Shuman Farms inaugurates the Vidalia onion season with the first shipment from Cobbtown, Ga., partnering with Food Lion and Royal Food Service for widespread distribution across the U.S. and Canada.

DelFrescoPure says its Original Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine will make their Canadian entrance, celebrating both flavor and sustainability.

The year-round supplier of russet, red and yellow commodity and baby potatoes will showcase its offerings at the April 23-25 event in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The partnership is highlighting the sustainable Grilled Portabella Mushroom and Swiss Sub with special social media content.

The organization that represents Florida tomato growers says the tomato suspension agreements are ineffective and that dumping still continues.

It’s no surprise that the education session on the tomato suspension agreement at this year's Viva Fresh Expo was a packed house, given the extensive discussion recently over its future.

The Morris, Minn.-based company says the move is aligned with its sales strategy in the eastern U.S.

Soil Health Institute becomes the fourth environmental nongovernmental organization to join PSA, while Walther Farms and DeGroot’s Vegetable Farms joined as grower associates.

Distributors of Mexican tomatoes say the Florida Tomato Exchange’s claim that Mexican tomato imports suppressed U.S. grower prices over the winter is off base.

The story of Vidalia onions comes to national television in a two-part special airing April 12 and April 19.

The USDA is seeking public input on modifying the membership structure of the South Texas Onion Committee.

The Canadian greenhouse grower said promotional strategies around its new Sweet S’naps peppers include high-graphic displays, shipping cartons and packaging to reinforce snackability.

Rawls Neville has worked with G&R Farms since 2015 in a storage and packing relationship through his previous businesses.

Available in a 40-pound carton or 2-pound bag, the Los Angeles-based grower-packer-shipper says the California flat sweet onions cater to both retail and foodservice customers.

Nomination applications are due by May 1, 2024, for three seats with terms expiring in 2027 and one seat with a term expiring in 2025.

The agency says the herbicide used for broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and onions presents significant health risks to applicators.

Nature Fresh Farms' Hiiros tomatoes have been named “Best Snacking Tomatoes” in the Powerhouse Produce category of Good Housekeeping's 2024 Best Snack Awards.

With sweet onion sales accounting for 35% of the onion category, retail promotional efforts involving endcap displays, bins and cross-merchandising can increase market share, says the marketer's vice president of sales.

Wynne, Ark.-based Matthews Ridgeview Farms is optimistic for a strong spring sweetpotato season, says Autumn Campbell, sales manager.

Glennville, Ga.-based Bland Farms is expecting a strong crop of Vidalia onions this year to go along with its Gold Rush promotional campaign.

Taylor Farms Retail is adjusting its packaged salad options to better serve single consumers, company executives said at the  Associated Wholesale Grocers' seventh annual Innovation Showcase.

With Vidalia onions soon heading to supermarket shelves, retailers have options to enhance their marketing, and the Vidalia Onion Committee and Certified Angus Beef will feature a summer grilling series on social media.

Following Shuman Farms’ acquisition, the company now has 2,800 acres of Vidalia onions in the ground and has solidified itself as one of the largest grower-shippers in the industry, says John Shuman, president and CEO.

The Asian Apple Salad Kit and the Twisted Caesar Creamy Truffle Caesar Chopped Salad Kit are now available.

San Antonio-based NatureSweet highlighted its Constellation three-color pack of mini sweet peppers at the Associated Wholesale Grocers' seventh annual Innovation Showcase.

Sweetpotato retail per capita availability rose from 3.78 pounds in 2000 to 6.02 pounds in 2020, USDA statistics show. The momentum continued in 2023, according to retail scan data.

The bio-engineered purple tomato from Norfolk Healthy Produce will soon reach retail shelves, says Harold Paivarinta, senior director of sales for Red Sun Farms.

When subjected to cold temperatures, potatoes convert starch to sugar which can darken the flesh and create a carcinogenic compound during high-temperature processing.

Fueled by Easter shopping lists, sweetpotatoes are expected to be in high demand in late March and into the spring. But the demand won’t stop there, industry leaders say.

Luke Parr, farm manager for Michigan-based Sackett Ranch, says the Tomra optical sorting machines can do multiple processes at once.

Topics addressed by the proposed rule for mushrooms include sourcing of substrate and spawn in organic mushroom production and composting requirements for organic mushroom production.

The company says the packaging change reduces plastics use by 25% and that it hopes to roll it out for other pints by the end of the year.

A marketing campaign for TX1015 sweet onions will feature promotions including a sweepstakes, social media giveaways and restaurant events.

Barring unforeseen weather events, Texas spring onion season is expected to feature plenty of good-quality product, growers say.

A new research project hopes to identify genetic markers to breed artichokes for improved storage.

The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based mushroom grower plans to streamline operations, its marketing director told The Packer. Smallhold's co-founder announced his departure in February.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and the Vidalia Onion Committee have revealed April 17 as the official pack date this season.

The company says it plans to tout the health benefits of the vegetable through a marketing campaign that includes giveaways.

Morning Kiss Organic says it will have organic Eastern-grown red, yellow and white onions, along with hand-cultivated organic Vidalia onions, this spring. The onions will join its lineup of organic summer vegetables.

The agreement gives Syngenta access to Emerald Seed Co.’s germplasm of open-pollinated and hybrid onion germplasm and expands Syngenta's portfolio.

In this podcast episode, the National Potato Council's Kam Quarles and Bob Mattive and Kelly Turner of Potato Growers of Michigan discuss the importance of potatoes in dietary guidelines, economic impacts and more.

The proposed rule that would raise the assessment rate for tomatoes grown in Florida from 2.5 cents to 3.5 cents per 25-pound carton. Comments on the proposal can be submitted until April 8.

The company is making a significant change to enhance the recyclability of its mushroom packaging by incorporating NIR sortable material in its rPET thermoformed tills.

The Kingsville, Ontario-based company said the new offering will make its debut at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event, set for March 7-9 in Tampa, Fla.

The Kingsville, Ontario, Canada-based greenhouse grower said it will debut its Original Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event, set for March 7-9 in Tampa, Fla.

Amazables are oven-crispy-skin-style microwavable U.S. No. 1 grade russet potatoes, available with two custom sauces created exclusively by Litehouse.

As the potato industry eyes its role in the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans, those in the industry say marketers should focus on nutritional benefits and trends to grow interest among younger shoppers.

The partnership will form a 50/50 Mexican joint venture, Royal Champs S. de R.L. de C.V.

Jim Ehrlich, the 2024 Potato Person of the Year, was recognized for his work advocating for the potato industry in Colorado and nationally. The award is co-sponsored by The Packer and the National Potato Council.