Month: January 2014

Monsanto is introducing novel strains of familiar food crops, invented at Monsanto and endowed by their creators with powers and abilities far beyond what you usually see in the produce section. But heres the twist: They arent genetically modified at all. Monsanto created all these veggies using good old-fashioned crossbreeding, the same technology that farmers have been using to optimize crops for millennia. …

Leonardo Academy, a charitable organization that facilitates the development of national voluntary standards, announced that 6 weeks remain in the public comment for National Sustainable Agriculture Standard (LEO-4000). Both the public comment period and balloting period will close on March 6, 2014. The ground-breaking standard, developed through the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) open, multi-stakeholder process, provides voluntary guidance and opportunities for recognition for producers interested in or engaged in sustainable crop production. …

The event, presented by the Eastern Produce Council and Produce Business magazine, showcased nonstop celebrity chef demonstrations throughout the second day of the New York Produce Show and Conference at Pier 94 in Manhattan. At the same time, culinary instructors and their students roamed the show floor, foraging among participating exhibitors for fruits and vegetables they could transform into cutting-edge preparations at their Culinary Innovation Stations. …

The latest apple from Enza has a following any new fruit would Envy. The aptly named apple will surpass the 100,000 carton mark out of Washington this season for the first time ever, as growers endeavor to feed the demand that continues to outpace supply. …

Long-time Yakima Valley fruit company E.W. Brandt & Sons is expanding its operations and re-launching its brand as RemBrandt® Masterpiece Fruit.  The company is making the investments to capitalize on growing demand for its fresh fruit, both domestically and overseas, according to Allen Brandt, President, who co-leads the family-run company with his brother and Vice-President, Dana Brandt. …