Vegetable Growers News

Philadelphia welcomes new produce market

The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) opened the doors of a new state-of-the-art facility April 3. The original market had been around since 1959 and was, at the time, one of the premier markets for wholesale fruit and vegetable sales, according to PWPM. "After ten years of planning, building and overseeing the completion of this one-of-a-kind facility, we were excited to celebrate with the community as we officially opened our doors for business," said Sonny DiCrecchio, PWPM's president and CEO. PWPM is made up of shareholders that operate within the market, but are separate businesses. Stockholders own 26 companies that occupy 67 separate units within the market. Each unit has its own refrigerated warehouse that, in most cases, is subdivided into sections to gain optimum temperatures for specific produce, said Tad Thompson, business development manager. The cooling systems are a key part of the market.…  » Read more

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President’s visit a boost for Illinois farm market

Bruce was knee-deep in vines, picking watermelons, when his cellphone rang. “Is this Bruce Curry?” a voice asked. “Yes,” Bruce affirmed. “Mr. Curry, I’m calling from the White House.” “You mean the one in Washington, D.C.?” Bruce Curry owns Country Corner Farm and Farm Market, an 80-acre farm in Alpha, Ill., near the Iowa border. The caller went on to identify himself as a representative of the president of the United States. He said they had been looking at the farm’s website, and wanted to know if President Obama could visit his farm and hold a town hall meeting on his property. Bruce asked them to send him an email, and he’d look at it after he finished picking his watermelons. How would you respond if someone called and asked if the president could visit your farm next week? Once Bruce Curry verified that the…  » Read more

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Buy-local movement continues to influence seed sales

When talking about trends from the past year, seed company representatives couldn't help bringing up the buy-local movement and its impact on small growers. "As an agronomist and life-long veteran grower, I continue to remain optimistic towards the small and mid-size retail growers," said Bob Koenders, owner of Bob's Designer Pumpkins, Armada, Mich. "They remain well-positioned to take advantage of the current high demand for local-grown and specialty high-value crops." Jake Jordan Jr., president of Jordan Seeds, Woodbury, Minn., concurred. The buy-local movement has had a major effect on his company's sales. Jordan Seeds sells a full line of vegetable seeds to small and medium-sized commercial growers all over the country - those who sell through CSAs, farmers' markets and similar outlets. Customers of those growers are looking for things big commercial growers can't supply, such as local tomatoes, pickles, greens and microgreens, Jordan said.…  » Read more

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Siegers celebrates a century selling seeds

Siegers Seed Co. will turn 100 in 2012. Rick Siegers represents the fourth generation of his family to run the company, which specializes in fresh-market vegetable varieties for commercial growers. Some of Siegers' customers have been around just as long, being run by their fourth generation. Rick knows that kind of longevity is quite an achievement, but he also knows the company can't survive on its past reputation alone. Siegers has to stay flexible, he said, and must continue to focus on the bottom line: Keeping customers profitable. "The industry keeps changing," he said. "You can't just keep doing what you're doing." Since the company built a new headquarters in Holland, Mich., in 2000, business has more than doubled. Rick credited good employees for the growth. About 30 people work for Siegers year round; up to 42 in the busy season (which runs from December…  » Read more

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Used equipment could be carrying pests, diseases

For many vegetable growers, winter is a time to plan for the coming growing season, which often means contemplating the purchase of additional equipment. A good share of the vegetable industry relies on specialized equipment to plant, care for and harvest a number of crops. When in need of additional equipment, many growers find themselves traveling much longer distances than in previous generations to acquire vegetable machinery. The Internet has made it very easy for large and small growers to search out a specific piece of equipment located anywhere in the United States, and even in other parts of the world. When inspecting a used piece of machinery, buyers typically look to see that the machine is of the proper specifications - that it is the right capacity and size to do the job intended. Buyers examine wear points to determine the useable life left…  » Read more

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Vegetable growers have a lot to learn at the 2011 EXPO

Vegetable growers have a lot to learn at the 2011 EXPO This year's Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO will offer a variety of educational sessions and special events. There should be something of interest for everyone attending. The 2011 EXPO is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6, through Thursday, Dec. 8. Here's just some of what is being planned. Education sessions A number of vegetable and fruit commodity sessions will be offered. Sessions on topics of general interest include a session on food safety audits on Tuesday and a session on hoop houses and high and low tunnels on Wednesday. For growers with farm markets, morning and afternoon farm market sessions will be offered Tuesday and Wednesday. These sessions will offer a number of interesting and informative presentations, including several "show and tell" discussions by successful farm marketers. A farm marketers' roundtable session…  » Read more

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