Page 7 - January_2019

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ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
NATIONAL MANGO BOARD SEEKING NOMINEES FOR BOARD MEMBERS
The National Mango Board (NMB), Orlando, FL, is seeking nominations for six board member positions to serve a three-year term beginning January 2020. Members will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of NMB programs. The positions currently open are: one importer in District III, two importers in District IV, and three foreign producers. Candidates must meet certain requirements to be eligible and be willing to serve the mango industry by ful lling board member roles and responsibilities. The NMB is made up of 18 mango industry
members – importers, a rst handler, domestic producers and foreign producers who dedicate themselves to the NMB mission to increase consumption of fresh mangos in the United States through innovative research and promotional activities, while also fostering a thriving industry. Nominations must be received at the NMB of ce no later than February 20, 2019.
ANNOUNCEMENT
HEART-HEALTHY CERTIFICATION EXPANDED FOR ALL USA PEARS VARIETIES
Following a successful introduction of the Red Anjou, Bosc and Bartlett pears over the past few years, Pear Bureau Northwest is expanding its American Heart Association’s Heart-Healthy branding to all of the 10 varieties of pears from the Northwest. Including all pear varieties in the program will allow for easier use of the heart check logo for grocers and retailers, according to USA Pears. It also provides additional chances to educate consumers about pears being a heart-healthy choice with low calories, zero fat, and 6 grams of ber per medium-sized pear.
“Our partnership with the American Heart Association’s Heart-Healthy program allows us to further promote the nutritional bene ts of all
10 varieties of pears from Oregon and Washington, providing extra incentive for consumers to add pears into their shopping cart,” says Kathy Stephenson, marketing communications director for Pear Bureau Northwest. The American Heart Association Heart Check logo is found on all USA Pears POS, social media and web content, and will be a feature in February’s American Heart Month and National Nutrition Month in March.
HASS AVOCADO BOARD REPORTS
SKYROCKETING SUMMER SALES
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) recently released
its Holiday and Events report for Q3 2018, detailing retail avocado category performance across the country for this past Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Fourth of July sales continued to grow, reaching a four-year high in 2018 of nearly $53 million in sales and 50 million in units. All regions showed very strong growth, ranging from plus-10 percent in the Great lakes to plus-54 percent in the Northeast. “Avocados are being added to tradi- tional summer fare including burgers and salads,” explains Emiliano Escobedo, executive director
of the Hass Avocado Board. “We’re also seeing avocados show up in fresh new ways, such as in refreshing ice pops. Shoppers look for unique and delicious healthy options for summer holidays and Hass avocados are a perfect addition.” Retailers also saw avocado unit and dollar sales grow to four-year highs for Father’s Day, with nearly $52 million in avocado sales. The 2018 sales for Father’s Day topped 2015 sales by +33 percent in dollars and +27 percent in units. The Southeast showed a signi cantly higher dollar sales growth rate than any other region at +25 percent. Labor Day posted a record-setting $51 million in sales.
ANNOUNCEMENT
FLORIDA CITRUS HALL OF FAME
SET TO INDUCT THREE NEW MEMBERS
The Selection Committee for
the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame
has announced three distin-
guished leaders who will be
inducted into the Hall during
the 57th Citrus Celebration
Luncheon on March 8 at
Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Tim Hurner, of Sebring, FL, Richard J. Kinney (deceased), formerly of Lakeland, FL, and Peter McClure, of Port St. Lucie, FL, will be honored at the luncheon, scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. Hurner is a fourth-genera- tion Florida citrus grower who has spent most of his life and career as an IFAS Extension Citrus Agent,
as well as a Center Director, in Highlands County supporting citrus growers in the production and pro tability of citrus. Kinney started his career as an Ag Liaison for Representative Andrew Ireland and later for former Governor and Senator Lawton Chiles. He went on to serve as Executive Vice President of Florida Citrus Packers from 1983 until his retirement in 2012. McClure is a fourth-genera- tion citrus grower and is known as “the Godfather” of the Citrus Research & Development Foundation (CRDF), an organization he helped found to combat the devastating spread of HLB.
Produce & Floral Watch are regular features of Produce Business. Please send information on new products, personnel changes, industry, corporate and personal milestones and available literature, along with a high resolution image to: Managing Editor, Produce Business, P.O. Box 810425, Boca Raton, FL 33481-0425 or email us at info@producebusiness.com.
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