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06/10/10Rainier Cherries Receive "Premium" DesignationAs we wait for the needed warm weather of June to bring forward this year’s Northwest Cherry crop … our partners at the USDA have posted a new standard on Washington-grown Rainier Cherries. After a year of discussion in Washington, D.C., Rainier cherries grown in Washington state may now be packaged as “Premium” if they have the right size, color, and brix content. The hope is that growers who go to the effort to produce a “Premium”-pack Rainier will be rewarded for their efforts in the marketplace. The actual regulations posted in the 7 CFR 923 of the Federal Register are below:http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-13408.pdfThe Summary:This final rule changes the handling regulation for cherries under the marketing order. Specifically,... Posted at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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06/07/10Cherry Industry's Person of the YearCongratulations to Dr. Amy Iezzoni who was selected this year's Cherry Industry Person of the Year. Dr. Iezzoni will be recognized at Industry Day, scheduled for July 6th at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Station. Amy has spent her career breeding tart cherry selections. She is the only tart cherry breeder in the United States today. She is known throughout the world for her work, dedication, and interest in selecting tart cherry varieties that will better met the needs of both the industry and consumers. As we think about sustainability of our industry, new varieties that we spray less are essential, without sacrificing quality along the way.There are very few true pioneers left in the world today who truly are dedicated to science and the industry. Dr. Amy Iezzoni is one... |
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06/04/10A change of varietyApproximately one third of Washington’s apples is exported to 60 markets, and in the last five years, Red Delicious accounted for approximately 43 percent of these exports. Although only representing 30 percent of total production, Red Delicious remains a significant variety with international consumers. As Washington growers continue to diversify varietal plantings, expanding the international consumers' knowledge of Washington’s many ‘other’ varieties is a priority. Just a decade ago, Red and Golden Delicious accounted for 61 percent of total production—today the two varieties comprise only 39 percent. In this same time period, Gala has doubled to slightly less than 20 million cartons, Granny Smith’s volume increased 50 percent and Fuji was up 10... |
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06/03/10Tools of the tradeTart cherry growers are used to large production swings. Large crops tend to lead to smaller crops. This was the basis for the Federal Marketing Order when it was put in place in 1996. Taking the production from a large crop and creating a “hold back” enables the industry the chance to keep customers in short crop years. This year, 2010, is no exception. Last year, the industry produced a record crop of over 350 million pounds. The inventory went up as a result of a high quality crop, grown under ideal weather conditions, with exceptional yields. In 2009, we had an average production of 10,000 pounds of red tart cherries per acre. The 2010 tart cherry crop will be substantially less. This smaller crop will work well to stabilize supplies and price, two important... |
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06/01/10June comes in like a lion?Amazingly, it’s the first day of June and a month ago I would have bet that growers along the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities region of Washington State would be picking today. It turns out that my beginning-of-May assumption is about 10 days from being accurate! The ever-changing sweet-cherry crop situation here in the Northwest remains “unpredictable” at best. In looking at orchards from the Tri-Cities to Naches in the state this past week, it is safe to say that we do not have a bumper crop on the trees. From the Pasco to Prosser, I do not think I saw a crop that averaged more than 4 or 5 tons per acre … and many orchards were much lighter than that. Looking at cherries over the Memorial Day weekend, I was disappointed to see several early Chelan blocks... |
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06/01/10Looking at 2010-2011 with concernEach year at this time, we are always asking the same questions: how's the crop, any damage, will the inventories be manageable by fall, and—most of all—what do you think the market will be? Each year at this time, we answer, "If I knew that, apples would not be my game." Across our state, unusually early spring warm weather, followed by normal cold weather, at the wrong time, have apple growers wondering, guessing, and hedging on what the crop will be.We hear the same comments across the state, from "I froze out," to "some damage," to "none" at all. This week, hot temperatures have prevailed across the growing area, and the thinning process is taking place. So, if you are looking for insider trading information on the 2010-2011 New... |
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05/28/10Apples take a short breakEntering into the Memorial Day holiday, with cherry season imminent, industry takes a break to enjoy what could be the last weekend away from the office until the end of July, or later for some. Cherry season can be intense—a huge influx of seasonal workers, long hours of harvesting and packing, and numerous strategy sessions to match supply with demand focusing on the best prices/returns. As industry concentrates on cherries, apples continue to ‘chug along’ in the background but not without a lot of attention.Export sales traditionally decrease in the spring and summer months as Southern Hemisphere producers make their presence known with a new crop. Most markets ‘dip’ as the new crop arrives from the Southern Hemisphere, but a few strategic markets... |
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05/22/10Joy of Travel?So, you all think traveling around the world is interesting, exciting and all fun—exotic destinations, great food, nice hotels? I have to admit, for one brief moment prior to getting on an airplane for a 30 hour door-to-door trip, I, too, feel this way. But, as soon as I wake up at Pangborn (the airfield in Wenatchee, Washington) at ‘o-dark thirty,’ crammed into a seat designed for a 5’6,” 150 pound boy, I remember how ‘getting there’ is the hard part—and this is only the first trip of a 16-week annual travel schedule. The month of May brings an end to my extensive travels allowing for reflection. And, oh, how I need this reflection!The end of travel, however, does not mean our efforts in foreign marketing are in any way reduced. For... |
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05/14/10CPMA – (Canadian Produce Marketing Association)May 12-14th Chris Scott and I attended CPMA in Vancouver, B.C. The Washington Apple Commission had a booth with our new bright and informative pull-ups, highlighting the scope of our mission at the commission. We took the time to meet with several other packers who also had booths; Columbia Marketing International (CMI), Domex Superfresh Growers, First Fruits Marketing, L&M, Rainier, and Chelanfresh Marketing. Stemilt was a major sponsor and Washington Fruit & Produce, Sage, and Borton Fruit were in attendance. Vancouver provided a beautiful venue to highlight our produce industry to retailers in Canada. Washington exports over 5 million cartons annually to Canada—our second largest export market.Our good friends from Cherries and Pears... Posted at 05:55 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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05/12/10Retail Real EstateThere are around 600 items in an average retail produce department in the US today, each vying for the consumer’s attention. This is double the number of fruits and veg displayed just 25 years ago. Each of those 600 items is vying for retail real estate: position, linear display space and ultimately, the shopper’s attention. Produce sales are heavily impulse driven and retailers use subtle psychological tools to help increase sales, prompting consumers to buy things that aren’t on their list or their minds when they enter the store. Retailers use a variety of techniques to help entice sales, including front end-cap positioning, using displays with false bottoms for a bountiful impression, creating beautiful color breaks by placing... Posted at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
