ATLANTA, GA - Mark your calendars for April 17, retailers! As of that date, Vidalia® onions will be shipping to grocery stores nationwide.

“For the 2024 season, we have 11,000 acres of Vidalia onions planted in the production area,” said Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) Chairman Cliff Riner. “Over the past few years, sweet onion sales have continued to increase, with Vidalia onions being a big part of the market. We're looking forward to another great season this year.”

Vidalia onions are available for a limited time each year between April through early September. According to a press release, the pack date is determined by soil and weather conditions during the growing season, contributing to high-quality Vidalia onions. The Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel voted to recommend April 17 as the 2024 pack date to Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

Known for their sweet, crisp flavor and versatility, Vidalia onions are a seasonal treat for various dishes. Because of the unique weather, water, and soil combination in 20 South Georgia counties, Vidalia onions cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.

“In coordination with the Vidalia Onion Committee, I am incredibly excited to announce April 17, 2024, as the official pack date of the 2024 Vidalia onion season,” said Harper. “Georgia Grown, Vidalia onions are recognized around the globe for their iconic sweet flavor that is treasured by culinary leaders and home chefs alike. This is an exciting time for Georgia farmers and consumers alike as we look forward to enjoying the sweet onion again!”

As Vidalia onion season gets underway, stick with ANUK for the latest updates.

RIO RICO, AZ - Fifteen years of proven sales management expertise is what Virginia Miller will be bringing to her new role at SunFed®.

Recently, the ace was named Sales Account Manager, a position in which she will utilize her extensive experience and passion for sales to contribute to the company’s success.

Throughout her career, Miller has successfully led numerous accounts to unprecedented growth and profitability, a release detailed. She has a deep understanding of category management and the ability to develop and nurture customer relationships.

In her new role, Miller will be instrumental in driving SunFed’s sales strategies forward. She will also work to pinpoint new growth opportunities, deliver exceptional value to the company’s customers, and help propel the supplier to new heights.

Best wishes to Virginia Miller as she takes on this role!

WATSONVILLE, CA - Monterey Mushrooms knows the importance of creating a sustainable future. Throughout its operation, the mushroom grower has always cultivated this culture. This latest announcement is a step further in that direction, as this spring, Monterey Mushrooms will enhance the recyclability of its mushroom packaging by incorporating near-infrared (NIR) sortable material in its recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) thermoformed tills.

“In the 1980s, Monterey Mushrooms revolutionized the retail industry by introducing pre-packaged mushrooms,” said Bruce Knobeloch, Vice President of Product Development and Marketing. “Since then, the mushroom industry has been repurposing colored rPET, such as opaque blue, opaque green, and black rPET plastics, to give them a new life. We believe using clear rPET is wasteful and a regressive step for our industry.”

According to a press release, the rPET tills are produced using 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials sourced entirely from North America. The use of NIR sortable colorant ensures that the packaging can be properly sorted and recycled into new products.

By using rPET, the mushroom industry can give multiple lives to mixed-color recycled PET materials. rPET with NIR sortable colorant can potentially provide long-term cost advantages compared to other colors, including clear rPET, the release went on to explain.

Monterey Mushrooms added that it considers its tills with the NIR sortable colorant as a black alternative color. The hue will vary between blue, green, purple, and black as the recycled base material used to manufacture the tills will change.

As the United States faces a daunting recycling problem, we need suppliers like Monterey Mushrooms coming up with serviceable solutions.

ANUK has its eyes on the wire for the latest in industry updates.

WENATCHEE, WA - A landmark partnership deal between CMI Orchards and Royal Family Farming has led to a groundbreaking initiative: The Soil Center. Spearheaded by the Allred family, Co-Owners of CMI Orchards and sole proprietors of Royal Family Farming, The Soil Center’s overall mission is to revolutionize the sector with innovative soil health solutions.

“CMI is steadfast in its commitment to a carbon-negative fruit industry. Our partnership with The Soil Center reflects this commitment. We are focused on creating a model that helps the entire agricultural sector, extending these advantages to all growers,” remarks CMI Orchards President Bob Mast. “Our efforts are aimed at enhancing the global agricultural environment sustainably, and our customers and end consumers deserve to be served by companies passionately devoted to the highest standards of land and animal stewardship. This project isn't just a mission; it's a promise of that commitment in action brought together by a family whose dedication has transformed what it means to farm with the future in mind.”

CMI has extensive expertise in fruit production, a complement to the sustainable farming methodology of Royal Family Farming. The joint venture aims to supply agricultural soil amendments and supplies not only to the owners and network of growers associated with CMI and RFF but also to the wider agricultural community.

"What began as a personal endeavor to support our family's farming efforts has blossomed into one of the largest regenerative farms operating at scale. We're taking the intimate, red barn farmer's market approach and expanding it, proving that sustainable practices can be successfully implemented on a larger scale,” adds Austin Allred, President of Royal Family Farming. “Rethinking our approach to carbon is imperative in this journey. Our goal is to significantly increase soil carbon, a critical factor for cultivating healthier crops and fostering a more resilient agricultural ecosystem. A major part of our mission is to educate consumers and shift the general perspective on carbon. It’s not just about reducing carbon in the atmosphere; it's about enhancing carbon in the soil, where it can do the most good for our planet."

Part of The Soil Center’s core mission, as a press release explained, involves transforming byproducts from orchards, row crops, dairy, and beef operations into high-quality soil amendments, thereby merging innovative fruit production with the principles of regenerative farming.

At the heart of The Soil Center's mission is the development of the world's largest worm farm and a comprehensive waste processing system.

"This project is a game-changer in the way we think about byproducts and waste streams. We are committed to finding innovative methods to repurpose waste from our farming and packing operations and enhancing soil health,” says Dr. John Cox, appointed President, The Soil Center. “This initiative is crucial in bringing the importance of soil function to the forefront of the agricultural community and beyond. Healthy crops and sustainable agriculture truly start from the ground up."

The Soil Center is set to break ground by Q2 2024 and will be supplying its innovative soil amendment products to the CMI grower network later that same year. By Q1 2025, The Soil Center aims to extend these products to the wider agricultural community.

For more information, click here.

AndNowUKnow will continue to keep an eye on the latest happening in fresh produce, so stay tuned.