Month: January 2015

A bitter fight over Georgia's famed sweet onions is winding its way through the state's legal system. The state agriculture commissioner established a rule setting a packing date meant to keep immature Vidalia onions off store shelves to protect what is a $150 million brand. …

To maximize the quality and storage life of their fruit, growers must harvest it at peak ripeness—the precise moment at which the adolescent apple reaches its hormonal high point. (In plants, the hormone ethylene stimulates fruit ripening, as well as leaf dropping and root-hair growth.) Bringing in a crop too early or too late can make or break a season. But, as at the supermarket, there are precious few ways of gauging ripeness reliably. …

Workers at the nation’s largest wholesale produce market reached a tentative contract agreement Saturday, averting a threatened strike that would have forced New York restaurants, grocery stores, and homes to scramble for fresh fruit and vegetables, according to union and management officials. …

Once again, it’s time to welcome back Rainier Fruit Company’s exclusive Lady Alice® brand apple. Lady Alice® apples continue to be one of the most eagerly anticipated apples of the season. As regional varieties disappear from store shelves, apple lovers everywhere have begun to turn to the Lady Alice® for its exceptional flavor and texture. A notable member of the apple category’s Rising Star segment, the Lady Alice®’s mid-winter release continues to provide an ideal solution to boost retail sales. …