Produce / Floral

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Hurricane Wilma could result in the loss of an estimated $180 million worth of Florida citrus, the equivalent of about 35.7 million boxes of fruit, Florida Citrus Mutual said this week, according to published reports. The growers group's preliminary estimates are confined to crop damage and don't include the destruction of packing houses, equipment, and other infrastructure. Florida Citrus Mutual also estimated Hurricane Wilma had blown 17 percent of the citrus crop from trees.

Exclusive-brand programs in fresh categories are paying off for retailers that have a clear, premium point of difference -- but they've got to hit the mark.

SANGER, Calif. -- Ballantine Produce Co. here was named the recipient of the 2005 Baker, Peterson & Franklin Ag Business Award, which honors a for-profit service or product-related agribusiness or farming entity headquartered in the Central San Joaquin Valley.

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Nearly three quarters of U.S. consumers are willing to pay more for improved food and beverage packaging that guarantees freshness, according to a survey released this week by DuPont here.

Retailers are likely to bag extra dollars like fallen leaves, if they capitalize on an especially rich harvest of timely fall promotions this season.

As consumer tastes go upscale, sales of premium assortments of wine, beer, and spirits soar.

Imported specialty foods will become less and less 'special' in a multicultural market -- but they'd better be the real thing.

BRUSSELS -- Following a challenging second quarter, the Delhaize Group's management said yesterday it is optimistic about the remainder of the year for its retail banners, including U.S. grocers Food Lion, Hannaford, and Kash 'n Karry.