Cal Giant, Frieda's and Pear Bureau

Jun. 20, 2011

Summer is just around the corner, and that means plenty of blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are available from California Giant Berry Farms! The fruit is currently in its peak season and is being harvested out of Santa Maria, Salinas, and Watonsville. Director of Marketing, Cindy Jewell stated, “With the warmer weather finally arriving, the quality and taste of our berries is really outstanding and it comes just in time for the high demand.”

Winners of the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program will be welcomed at this fall’s Washington Public Policy Conference. Through the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship, up to four family-owned United Fresh member businesses will receive complimentary airfare, hotel, and registration to attend the October public policy summit. United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel explained “Family businesses stand to gain so much by getting involved here in Washington, and it is so important that they have the ability to come to Capitol Hill, meet with legislators and administration officials and make their views known.” Learn more about apply by clicking on the link on your screen. http://www.unitedfresh.org/programs/frieda_rapoport_caplan_scholarship

Sunny days are way more fun than rainy ones, especially if you’re a pear lover! Due to cold and wet weather conditions, pear harvesting is anticipated to begin one to two weeks later than normal, starting in mid-to-late August. The Northwest Pear Bureau is projecting a harvest of 422,166 tons of pears, which is 8% larger than last year’s short crop. CEO Kevin Moffit stated: “Pears continue to be a popular fruit choice among consumers the world over, and our programs are poised to help increase demand and consumption while helping to ensure success for retailers and foodservice operators.” The top three pear varieties, Green Anjou, Bartlett and Bosc are all up from previous years. Retailers are responding to the surge by expanding marketing and raising awareness about the ripening process and the pears themselves.