Jim Prevor

What Are Grape Varietal Innovations Worth? Julian Alston Ph.D. Of UC Davis Paints The Picture

August 18, 2022 Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit

We have carefully followed the VitisGen and VitisGen2 project for a long time. It is a multi-institution research collaboration, funded by the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative and focused on enabling the production of new grape varieties. Now the Global Grape Summit, to be held in Bakersfield, California, will continue this exploration with a presentation by Julian Alston, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Director of the Center for Wine Economics within the Robert Mondavi Institute at the University of California, Davis. …

BUILDING INDUSTRY COOPERATION How Breeders, Growers and Retailers Can Build The Future: Rupert Maude Speaks Out

August 18, 2022 Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit

Rupert Maude has worked for a major producer and a breeder, has lived and worked in producing and consuming countries, and has sold a variety of fresh produce including lettuce, almonds, garlic, and, more recently, stone fruit and table grapes. Last year, Sun World International named Maude its Brand Ambassador. …

HMC Farms’ Harold McClarty Talks Boosting Grape Consumption

August 18, 2022 Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit

You could say that Harold McClarty has grapes running through his veins. Table grapes, that is, not the wine type. Back in 1887, his great grandfather purchased the land where McClarty later grew up and, exactly a century later, founded HMC Farms. Today, the Kingsburg, California-headquartered company has grown from the original 40 acres to one of the largest grower-shipper-packers of tree fruit and table grapes in the world, with growing locations across California and Chile. …

Perfection Fresh Australia’s CEO Michael Simonetta
Gives a Producers’ Perspective on the Global Grape Industry

August 17, 2022 Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit

When Michael Simonetta rejoined the family business in 1984, he thought he’d spend the rest of his career selling lettuce, cauliflower, and broccoli in Sydney, Australia’s wholesale markets. Today, he travels the world as CEO of Perfection Fresh Australia in search of the next best-tasting fresh produce – including grapes. …

A Wholesale Perspective
Tom Kovacevich Makes The Case:
A Happy, Repeat Grape Consumer
Will Continue To Drive The Business

August 17, 2022 Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit

In a week’s time, Tom Kovacevich probably sees more grapes than many retailers do in a lifetime. The president of T.M. Kovacevich-Philadelphia Inc. — better known simply as TMK Produce — Kovacevich operates nine units on the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, and there are times TMK has over 100 combinations of grape offerings. …