Month: August 2012

More than 250 representatives of the international apple and pear sector met on the occasion of the 36th Prognosfruit Conference on 3rd August 2012 in Toulouse (France). On this occasion, WAPA (World Apple and Pear Association) released the 2012 European apple and pear crop estimates. The 2012 apple and pear production in the EU will be significantly lower than average given unfavourable climatic conditions in winter and spring across Europe. Apples will decrease by 9% compared to the previous year while pears are estimated to have a lower crop by 22% compared to 2011. …

Farmers continue to struggle with hot, dry weather, but there is one crop that’s thriving. “I’ve never ever seen it like this,” Earl Kidston, one of the principals in the Nova Agri-Group, owner of Blueberry Acres, said in an interview at the Sheffield Mills, Kings County, farm Tuesday. …

Harris Teeter is launching a campaign designed to bring salad bars to schools in the Harris Teeter market communities to support Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools (LMSB2S). In collaboration with the United Fresh Produce Association Foundation, a founding partner of LMSB2S, Fresh Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands, and nine additional produce suppliers, Harris Teeter will donate salad bars to at least 10 schools. These salad bars will benefit more than 5,000 students by providing them a healthy lunch option filled with fresh produce. …

California’s table grape growers recently awarded nine scholarships to students residing in the table grape growing regions of California. These students will be attending universities in the fall of 2012 such as University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; and California State University, Fresno. …