NEWS ROUNDUP 1994-12-05

Phone-a-Thon Has Big Ring

roduce for Better Health Foundation's board of directors raised more than $100,000 during a phone-a-thon. The phone-a-thon last month capped a two-week fund-raising effort that began during the Produce Marketing Association's annual convention in San Antonio. The foundation estimates that it has raised more than $1 million in total contributions this year.

The phone-a-thon netted $111,295, which exceeded the $100,000 goal, according to Dave Eldredge, chairman of the foundation's fund-raising committee and vice president of sales and marketing for Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, Calif.

More than 130 organizations either contributed for the first time or increased their contributions, according to the foundation, based here.

Twenty-two board members participated in the drive, which took place during the board of directors meeting in Dallas on Nov. 11 to 13.

Eldredge said the pledge drive was so successful the board has agreed to make it an annual event at the board meeting.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation, along with the National Cancer Institute, oversees the national 5 a Day for Better Health program.

Canadian PMA Sets Convention

TORONTO -- "The Magic of Produce" is the theme of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 70th annual convention, set for Jan. 25 to 28, 1995, at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel here.

The convention will feature more than 150 exhibitors, produce tours and several industry speakers and panels.

Participants will have the choice of taking a fresh-cut operations tour, a wholesale tour or a retail tour. Speakers include Diane Francis, editor of the weekly Montreal-based business newspaper The Financial Post, who will talk about applying current news to the produce business; Joe Stubbs of Sunkist Growers, who will discuss value-added produce, and consultant Ronnie De La Cruz, who will speak about ways to motivate produce people. There will be panel discussions on these issues, as well as a panel of experts who will discuss how Efficient Consumer Response relates to produce. For more information, contact the Canadian Produce Marketing Association at (613) 226-4187.

'American Salad' Added to Roster

SALINAS, Calif. -- Fresh Express Farms here has introduced "American Salad" to its value-added line of World Blend salads.

American Salad combines iceberg lettuce, romaine, red cabbage, carrots and radishes. It is the fourth variety in the line, joining European, Italian and Riviera salads.

Fresh Express Farms produces three lines of value-added salads, including World Blends, Family Classics and The Works.

NAFPP Revamps Exhibition

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Fresh Produce Producers here has changed much of the format for its annual conference and exhibition, which next year is slated for March 16 to 18 in Albuquerque, N.M.

The 1995 conference, the association's eighth, will approach fresh-cut seminars in a classroom format, instead of a round table discussion. The conference has outgrown a resort hotel setting and will be held at a convention center. The classes will be given at two levels, one for those experienced in fresh-cut, the other for those needing basic skills. Topics will include chlorine, labeling, government regulations and backflushing, among others.

During the convention, NAFPP will officially unveil its new name and logo: the International Fresh-Cut Produce Association.

Fresh Western Realigns Products

SALINAS, Calif. -- Fresh Western Marketing here has launched a new system to manage its River Ranch line of value-added products.

The system groups the products under descriptive names. The new categories are: Garden Fresh, which includes six salad items; European Style, which includes five salad varieties; Complete Salads, which come ready-to-eat; Fresh Cuts, which include chopped vegetables; Salad-To-Go, which consists of single-serving salads, and FreshSides, which includes microwaveable precut vegetables.

Fresh Western is a grower, packer and processor of produce.