FRESH2011, Europe’s leading fresh fruit and vegetable conference event, is coming to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on 25-27 May 2011.

FRESH2011, Europe’s leading fresh fruit and vegetable conference event, is coming to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on 25-27 May 2011.

The city's key role in linking Europe with the rest of the world via what is Europe's largest port, combined with The Netherlands reputation for fresh produce innovation and quality, makes Rotterdam the perfect venue for FRESH2011.

This year's event, organised by Eurofruit Magazine and Freshfel Europe and held at the exclusive Hilton Hotel, takes a uniquely interactive approach to its programme, offering social media-based interaction and video analysis alongside insights from keynote speakers working at some of Europe's leading fresh produce companies.

Several of the European fresh produce industry's leading figures will be on hand to discuss the changing nature of global fresh produce supply, including Rory Byrne of Total Produce, Gé Happe of Ahold, Coop Trading's Jack Enevoldsen and Hein Deprez of Univeg.

Another key topic for debate will be the recent push towards direct sourcing on the part of major food retail companies. Dole Europe president Johan Lindén and Philip Smits, the chief executive of The Greenery, will consider the potential implications of direct sourcing on the business.

Three fast-paced break-out sessions will focus on serious challenges faced by the industry in relation to sustainability, food safety and recruitment, engaging delegates with case studies and practical advice from those with first-hand experience.

FRESH2011 offers ample opportunities to network with around 250 of Europe’s leading buyers, importers and exporters, in one of Europe’s most established and innovative fresh produce centres.

Register online by 27 April 2011 and benefit from an exclusive 20 per cent saving on the full delegate fee. Freshfel Europe members also benefit from exclusive registration fees.

Sponsor FRESH2011 and showcase your brand to Europe’s top buyers and importers through extensive publicity online, in print and in person, before, during and after the event. Gold, Silver or Bronze sponsorships packages are available.

Keep up to date with speaker, programme and market news at www.freshcongress.com

Chairwoman Stabenow Applauds USDA’s Deregulation of Sugar Beets

Chairwoman Stabenow Applauds USDA’s Deregulation of Sugar Beets



WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to partially deregulate Roundup Ready sugar beets, noting the decision will provide farmers the certainty they need to plant their 2011 crops and bolster Michigan’s thriving sugar beet industry.



“Sugar beets are a major economic driver of Michigan’s agriculture industry,” Stabenow said. “Michigan is on the leading edge of national beet sugar production, and this decision comes at a crucial moment when farmers need certainty to efficiently plan their crops. America leads the world in crop production because we lead the world in efficiency and innovation. I appreciate that the USDA has made this decision based on sound science after a careful review. Going forward, we need to create more certainty for growers and fewer delays that hinder their ability to make decisions.”



Michigan ranks fourth nationally in sugar beet production. More than 850 farmers produce sugar beets on more than 136,000 acres, representing 3.9 million tons of beets annually. In 2008, Michigan sugar beet production was valued at more than $171 million. Michigan is also the home of the Michigan Sugar Company, an agricultural cooperative based in Bay City. Michigan Sugar, the third largest sugar company in the United States, owns and operates processing facilities in Bay City, Caro, Croswell, and Sebewaing, employing 1,450 seasonal and 940 year-round workers.

New Market Center dedicated to beloved agribusiness advocate

New Market Center dedicated to beloved agribusiness advocate



COLUMBIA, S.C., February 4, 2011 – A former governor, ambassador, commissioner of agriculture, decorated general, and other distinguished dignitaries gathered with family and friends recently to dedicate the new Market Center in memory of T. Ashton Phillips, a devoted agribusiness leader and long-time agribusiness advocate. The Phillips Market Center is located at the SC State Farmers Market, 3501 Charleston Hwy., W. Columbia, S.C.



Hugh Weathers, Commissioner of Agriculture, said, “ It is our hope that this building reflects the spirit of Ashton Phillips by creating new opportunities in agriculture in South Carolina, bringing folks together for solutions to challenges, and having fun while doing it.”



In 1972, Phillips and partners Tony Cecil of Charleston and Sammie Rodgers of Scranton founded the family-business Carolina Eastern amid uncertain times for the fertilizer industry. Through the years, Carolina Eastern has helped farmers grow their crops bigger and better.



Phillips believed in two guiding principles – the importance of people and the commitment to manage change. He once said that “people are the heart of a business and that without good people, it would be impossible to do what we do.” Farmers throughout the Southeast have trusted Carolina Eastern because of the reputation of the company and the values of its founding father, Ashton Phillips.



Jim Roquemore, CEO of Patten Seed, spoke on behalf of the friends of Ashton Phillips. He said that you always knew where you stood with Ashton. He paid close attention to what you were saying to him and always looked you squarely in the eyes. Roquemore said that we should all take a lesson from that.



Speaking on behalf of the family, Mark Phillips, the oldest son of Ashton and LaVonne said, “His [Ashton Phillips] life involved planting, fertilizing, cultivating, and reaping, whether it meant raising his family, nurturing his friendships, producing a crop, generating proceeds through agribusiness, or harvesting wild game in South Carolina fields and forests.”



The blessing of the Phillips Market Center was provided by the Reverend Haden McCormick of St. Phillips Church in Charleston where the Phillips family worships. He asked God’s blessing on all those who have had a hand in establishing the new center.



As a final tribute, Al Phillips, Ashton Phillips’s son who now serves as president of Carolina Eastern, and Commissioner Weathers installed a bronze plaque dedicating the building to the memory of T. Ashton Phillips.



What started as a vision several years ago has culminated into a 10,000 square-foot facility designed to be the location of many functions not only benefitting the agribusiness community, but also the general public. The Phillips Market Center, the new home of the S.C. - U.S.D.A. Grading and Inspection and Market News Services, is available for workshops, meetings, and other events.



For more information about the dedication of the new Phillips Market Center, call 803-734-2210.

NFL Commissioner Goodell to Join Leading Authorities in Historic Private-Public Pledge to Fight Childhood Obesity and Highlight Fuel up to Play 60

NFL Commissioner Goodell to Join Leading Authorities in Historic Private-Public Pledge to Fight Childhood Obesity and Highlight Fuel up to Play 60

Press conference also will launch Gen YOUth Foundation, a nonprofit organization that connects business leaders, health professionals and educators to improve child health and wellness and support Fuel Up to Play 60

DALLAS, February 4, 2011 — Some of our nation's principal thought leaders in child health, physical activity and education will converge today in North Texas, site of Super Bowl XLV, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines an unprecedented private-public partnership committed to child health and wellness.

This historic agreement will bring together the National Football League, leading government authorities, National Dairy Council (NDC) and Gen YOUth Foundation, a newly formed nonprofit organization that supports efforts to end childhood obesity. MOU co-signers include U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; NDC CEO Thomas Gallagher and Gen YOUth Foundation CEO Alexis Glick. This MOU sets a new precedent for private-public partnerships and cross-department collaboration.

"We are pleased to join this diverse group to collaborate in addressing the childhood obesity epidemic – a problem too big to tackle alone," said Goodell. "The NFL is proud to be a partner in Fuel Up to Play 60, which is making a real and lasting impact in schools across the country."

Launched in 2007 by NDC and NFL, Fuel Up to Play 60 is a customizable in-school program that empowers youth in more than 70,000 schools to improve nutrition and physical activity at their school and for their own health. It encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (including low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Fuel Up to Play 60 has earned recognition across the private and public sectors and additional support has been achieved from multiple health organizations and several major corporations.

"Since more than 50 percent of a student's daily calories are consumed at school, the school environment is an ideal setting for turning healthy behaviors into lifelong habits. To make an impact in schools and beyond, it is critically important to engage kids in an exciting way. Today, we will debut a public service announcement which provides a compelling example of what we can achieve when putting meaningful partnerships to work for kids," said Secretary Vilsack.

In this spirit of collaboration, a new Foundation, Gen YOUth, launches today. Gen YOUth Foundation will work with schools, communities and business partners to develop and support programs that create lasting changes in the child health and wellness arena, including Fuel Up to Play 60. The mission of the Gen YOUth Foundation is to create a movement that will inspire youth to change their behavior.

"Through Gen YOUth, we are building a team of players who are committed to combating childhood obesity. We hope that moving forward, more influencers will respond to our call to action and join us in taking an active role in eradicating the largest public health issue of this generation," said Gen YOUth CEO Alexis Glick. "As the mother of three young boys, I know how important it is to teach healthy choices. But if there isn't support in the school environment, we lose all the momentum we've gained at home. We need to tackle this issue from all fronts."

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors representative of organizations across the public, private and health professional sectors. The Foundation Board will meet twice a year and will participate in an annual dialogue on childhood obesity with the leading health professional organizations to identify sustainable solutions. Members include 16th U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, known for first labeling childhood obesity an "epidemic;" National PTA President Charles Saylors; former NFL player and FOX Sports commentator Howie Long; Washington Post Senior Associate Editor Lally Weymouth; Top Chef All-Star Carla Hall; LALA USA CEO Steve McCormick; and Purdue University Foods and Nutrition Department Head Dr. Connie Weaver. Former financial executive and media personality Alexis Glick will oversee the Board of Directors as Gen YOUth Foundation CEO.

To join Fuel Up to Play 60 and learn more about the program, please visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com. To get involved with Gen YOUth Foundation and to learn more about how to make a serious impact on the health of America's youth, please visit www.genyouthfoundation.org.

About Fuel Up to Play 60

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com to le arn more.

About Gen YOUth Foundation

Today, over one-third of American children are either overweight or obese. If the trend continues, today's children may be the first generation with shorter life expectancies than their parents. In response to this epidemic, Gen YOUth Foundation was founded to inspire youth behavior change. Gen YOUth Foundation is launched with initial funding from four founding partners: Domino's Pizza®, Kraft Foods, LALA USA and Leprino Foods, with additional funding from dairy farmers through NDC. It invites business and philanthropic partners who share in its mission to join its efforts in pursuing a sustainable solution to the childhood obesity epidemic and help ensure that America's children have access to the health and wellness information that will help them succeed.

Gen YOUth Foundation will demonstrate that when youth are given a voice, change can happen. For more information, visit www.genyouthfoundation.org. Media resources, including press conference video footage and photos are available at www.FuelUpToPlay60MediaResources.com.

California Grape Scholarship Applications Announced

California Grape Scholarship Applications Announced
FRESNO, California – California’s fresh grape growers are offering applications for the 2011 California Table Grape Workers Scholarship program. Three $16,000 scholarships to any four-year California college or university are available to California’s table grape field workers and their immediate families.
The application deadline is Friday, March 11, 2011. Applicants must be 2011 graduating high school seniors or high school graduates who wish to continue their education.
The industry’s scholarship program was created in 1985 as the first field worker scholarship of its kind. To date, the program has helped send more than 90 students to some of the top colleges in California. Last year’s scholarship recipients are now full-time students at UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara studying biology, engineering and psychology. The funds awarded help cover the cost of tuition, books and other college-related expenses.
“California's fresh grape farmers have long recognized the importance of supporting the communities where they live and work,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “Throughout the San Joaquin and Coachella valleys, table grape growers volunteer their time and service for associations, boards and charitable organizations. The scholarship program is another way they show support for the rural communities in which they live.”
The California Table Grape Workers Scholarship program is open to table grape field workers and their immediate family members only. Workers and immediate family members of wine, raisin, or other commodity crops will not qualify.
Applications are available through employers. In addition, information is available to qualified students through high school counselors, and applications can be found and are ready for download on the commission website at grapesfromcalifornia.com.