China opens its market to Chilean beef and lamb plus avocados and berries

Posted on May 15, 2012 by pgblogadmin

China has opened its market to Chilean meat, avocados and blueberries following the visit of Agriculture minister Luis Mayol who anticipated further discussions for the sale of live cattle and dairy produce.

“We have concentrated mainly in the access of meat, (beef and lamb) as well as berries and avocados” said Mayol after a five day visit to China which he described as “very satisfactory” in his field of action.

“I leave China very satisfied since activities have been intense but very productive”, said Mayol following several interviews with his peer Han Chanfu and the AQSIQ, deputy minister for imports certification, Wei Chuanzhong.

Calls to use locally grown avocado, New Zealand

Posted on May 8, 2012 by pgblogadmin

A call has been made for restaurants and takeaway establishments to use locally grown avocados, rather than imported fruit in a move which should benefit local growers.

Fressure Foods, a mainly grower-owned organisation, is encouraging Kiwi food trade companies to source locally produced avocados wherever possible to support local farmers.

Currently the imported avocado industry in New Zealand is valued at around $1million and around 200 tonnes of the fruit are brought into the country each year.

Fressure Foods CEO, Graeme Laurence, says this quantity of imported produce is no longer necessary and is negatively impacting local growers.

Avocados could protect against cancer and heart disease

Posted on May 1, 2012 by pgblogadmin

AVOCADO oil may have health and anti-aging properties like those attributed to olive oil, say researchers.

Fat pressed from the exotic fruit could be a potent weapon against conditions such as heart disease and cancer, it is claimed.

Avocado oil is similar in composition to olive oil, consumption of which is associated with unusually low levels of chronic disease in some Mediterranean countries.

RETAIL VIEW: Supermarket dietitians a boon for produce

Posted on April 24, 2012 by pgblogadmin

The RD, she said, gets involved in many in-store promotions to help teach the consumer good nutrition through their healthy food choices. Ms. Yoder said that during the training period, each dietitian is taught that all food can be part of a healthy diet.

For example, during a recent potato chip promotion, the corporate registered dietitian, working with the company’s chef, developed a recipe that incorporates potato chips as a crust in a very healthy dish. Using another example, she said that the RD might promote milk with cookies, putting a health and wellness spin on an age-old favorite.

Ms. Yoder said that another big part of the job of the store-specific RDs is to lead storewide tours. “They might conduct a heart-healthy or a gluten-free tour of the store,” she said.

Fest celebrates the avocado: Organizers get up early in the morning to put together Fallbrook’s annual festival

Posted on April 17, 2012 by pgblogadmin

Avocados, a Jack Russell named Snickers and Fallbrook’s Chamber of Commerce share one thing in common: Kathie Richards.

She coordinates the annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival, and every year for the past four years, she has left her home in Murrieta — and her dog, Snickers — in the wee hours of the morning to be in Fallbrook by 3 a.m. on the day of the event.

“Between 3 and 9, it’s insane, but once the festival begins (at 9 a.m.), it really calms down,” said Richards, who’s a staff member of the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event.

With the support of volunteers, including 80 sheriff’s deputies, her mornings have gradually been “less hectic,” Richards said.

AGRICULTURE: Chiquita pulls out of avocado packaging business

Posted on April 10, 2012 by pgblogadmin

Chiquita Brands International Inc., one of the largest banana producers in the world that a year ago muscled its way into the local avocado scene, notified vendors and suppliers recently that it is “transitioning out” of a proprietary plastic bagging process for avocados.

In 2010, the famed banana brand backed local investors in their pursuit of buying Harvest Time Produce Inc. in Oceanside from longtime packinghouse owner John Schmidt. He sold the firm to two outside investors working closely with Chiquita who intended to increase the producer’s purchase of locally grown avocados.

The buyer of Harvest Time was St. Thomas Produce Inc., which included Harvest Time executive Alex Demos and Palm Desert entrepreneurs Robert Lodge, a quality control expert who formerly worked on “Star Wars” toys and custom-made golf clubs, and his wife, Eva.

South African Avocados to Hit EU Shores

Posted on April 3, 2012 by pgblogadmin

South African avocado exports are back to traditional volumes this year, after a down season last year which was hit by hail at the end of 2010. It is expected that 48,000 tons will be exported to the UK and Europe.

The first shipment will arrive in Europe early next week, followed by the first UK arrival in a week or two. This season’s volumes will almost double the 27,000 tons exported last year. Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA), said that growing conditions have been excellent, “plenty of rain in the first part of the growing season followed by dry and sunny weather later has allowed a heavy crop with good internal quality.”
Read More

Hass Avocado Board Reveals Major Avocado Nutrition Research Initiative

Posted on March 27, 2012 by pgblogadmin

IRVINE, Calif. – For the first time ever, the Hass avocado industry has come together to unveil a major nutrition research program focused on heart health, weight management and diabetes, and healthy living. The comprehensive nutritional initiative will be one of the Hass Avocado Board’s (HAB) key strategic priorities moving forward, with an overall goal of helping to drive increased consumption of Hass avocados. This multi-year effort will build a strong case for touting the nutritional benefits of the fruit, using the science to provide a solid foundation for health and nutrition marketing communication programs…

Program helps avocado handlers implement GAPs

Posted on March 20, 2012 by pgblogadmin

A growing number of California avocado grower-shippers are certified or are in the process of being certified for good agricultural practices.

The Irvine-based California Avocado Commission launched a program to help growers complete a GAP inspection about a year ago, and growers started achieving certified status late last year.

Gaining more acreage

All of the major handlers have bought into the program, and by early February, up to 15% of the state’s avocado acreage had been certified, said Ken Melban, the commission’s director of issues management.

The commission has not set a specific acreage goal, but Melban said the organization would like to see “a sizable amount of acreage” certified by the end of year.

Read the Whole Article

5 surprising health benefits of eating avocados

Posted on March 13, 2012 by pgblogadmin

Avocados are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. Find out how eating this delicious food will benefit your health

Avocados are a superfood

Yes, avocados are relatively high in fat and calories (138 calories and 14.1g fat in half a medium-sized avocado). But they’re also one of the best foods you can eat, packed with nutrients and heart-healthy compounds. Here are five great reasons to eat them regularly.

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Apr
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31