Latest news with #Hass
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MISSION PRODUCE® to Release Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on Thursday, June 5, 2025
OXNARD, Calif., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mission Produce, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVO) ('Mission' or 'the Company') a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, today announced it will release its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2025 after the market closes on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on the same day. Conference Call Details The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 407-9039 or for international callers by dialing (201) 689-8470. A replay of the call will be available through June 19, 2025 by dialing (844) 512-2921 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 13751791. The live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible in the News & Events section on the Company's Investor Relations website at An archived replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the live event has concluded. About Mission Produce, Inc.: Mission Produce is a global leader in the worldwide avocado business with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and currently services retail, wholesale and foodservice customers in over 25 countries. The vertically integrated Company owns and operates four state-of-the-art packing facilities in key growing locations globally, including California, Mexico and Peru and has additional sourcing capabilities in Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa and more, which allow the company to provide a year-round supply of premium fruit. Mission's global distribution network includes strategically positioned forward distribution centers across key markets throughout North America, China, Europe, and the UK, offering value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing and logistical management. For more information, please visit Contacts:Investor Relations Contact:ICRJeff Media:Jenna AguileraMarketing Content and Communications ManagerMission Produce,
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California avocados at risk due to lack of USDA inspectors, report says
The California Avocado Commission (CAC) released a report Tuesday that indicates state-grown avocados may be severely at risk due to a 2024 Biden administration move that withdrew U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors from Mexican orchards. 'This move, made in response to cartel violence, shifted critical U.S. agricultural oversight to foreign control, undermining decades of bipartisan efforts to protect U.S. agriculture,' the CAC said in a press release. The report, titled 'The Growing Threat to California Avocados: Why USDA Must Reinstate Inspection Protocols in Mexico,' states that in 1997, CAC officials and their federal counterparts negotiated an agreement with the Mexican government that allowed the importation of fresh Hass avocados into the United States. The agreement lifted a ban that had been in place since 1914 to prevent a range of pests from entering American orchards. LADWP says substance causing 'earthy odor' in drinking water is not harmful According to the report, the choice to remove USDA's physical presence from Mexican avocado orchards in 2024 was made without public announcement, congressional notification or input from American avocado growers. In fact, the CAC claimed that they themselves learned of the decision, which they say is 'a breach of [the 1997] agreement,' through foreign media outlets. 'This system worked for nearly three decades…[and] functioned with exceptional effectiveness, keeping invasive pests like seed weevils and fruit-boring moths out of California [while] maintaining the state's pristine pest-free certification,' the report reads. 'With no need for chemical interventions against these exotic pests, growers benefited from lower production costs, clean environmental compliance and the ability to export to countries with strict phytosanitary barriers.' 'Mexican inspections alone cannot be trusted to meet the phytosanitary standards the U.S. has long required,' the report continues. 'As a result, fruit carrying dangerous pests is now being certified and shipped with reduced oversight, increasing the probability of pest introduction into California's avocado-growing regions.' Since the pests have never established themselves in California (which CAC says is thanks to nearly three decades of strict pre-export enforcement by the USDA), the state's avocado industry, which is a '$1.5 billion economic engine' that supports more than 3,000 family-owned farms, is 'fundamentally different' from global competitors because of its cleanliness standards. California itself is one of the last remaining major avocado-producing regions in the world that remains free of the crop's main pests — avocado seed weevils and fruit-feeding moths – which allows local growers to thrive with 'minimal chemical intervention, high export viability and strong consumer confidence,' according to the report. Unhealthy air quality predicted for parts of SoCal 'If [these pests] gain a foothold in California orchards, the result would be devastating – biologically, economically and environmentally,' the report says. According to agriculture officials, the pests may have already started making their way into California; since inspectors were withdrawn, more than 150 pest interceptions were reported between Oct. 30, 2024, and Mar. 11, 2025, the CAC report states. USDA data cited in the report indicates that between Jan. 1 and Oct. 17, 2024, there were no pest interceptions in Mexican warehouses. Overall, the CAC says that the main solution to the problem is to reinstate inspection protocols in Mexico as per the 1997 agreement. Keeping in mind inspector safety, CAC recommends that security personnel be deployed and inspectors stationed in secure convoys, especially in high-risk regions like the Mexican state of Michoacán, where most avocados are grown. Additionally, CAC wants direct engagement from the Trump administration to ensure that 'criminal cartels [don't] dictate the terms of our food safety' and the ability to suspend Mexican imports if conditions are not met. According to the report, 80% of Mexico's avocado imports come to the U.S. Hannah Kobayashi breaks silence on disappearance, father's death Lastly, the CAC wants to spread public awareness of the issue as not just an agricultural problem, but a national security concern. 'The threat facing California's avocado industry is not theoretical, it is happening now. Since the withdrawal of USDA inspectors from Mexico in late 2024, dangerous avocado seed pests have been repeatedly detected in Mexican orchards and packinghouses,' the report concludes. 'These pests, long excluded by strict inspection protocols, now pose a growing risk of crossing into California's pest-free growing regions…Once established, they cannot be eradicated, [and] the consequences would be severe: billions in economic losses, the collapse of generational family farms, and the loss of one of America's most successful, clean, and sustainable agricultural commodities.' 'This crisis was preventable,' the report's conclusion adds. 'It is still reversible.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
10-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Yankee ticket deadbeat sentenced to four years in prison for stiffing IRS out of $3.5 million in payroll taxes
A New Jersey man who once stiffed the New York Yankees out of more than $626,000 was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $3.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty to tax evasion, authorities said. Shipping company owner Walter Hass of Hewitt — who was accused in 2020 of failing to pay the Yankees for eight seats, food and beverage in a suite he'd signed up for — used cash that should have gone to the taxman on everything from luxury cars such as Aston Martins and McClarens, high-end watches, designer clothes and vacations. While he initially pleaded guilty in October 2023, Hass, 63, concocted a kidney cancer diagnosis and submitted phony letters from doctors to the court in a bid to avoid having the guilty plea entered into court. Hass allegedly signed an eight-year deal for seats in a suite at Yankee Stadium then failed to pay. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 'Hass did not have cancer and attempted to travel throughout the United States and around the world during this time. Only when law enforcement discovered his deception did he ultimately admit to his conduct,' the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey said. His sentence, handed down Tuesday, includes three years supervised release. Hass failed to collect, account for and pay payroll taxes between 2014 and 2022, and during that stretch, he was also cheating the Yankees, according to court records. The Bronx Bombers brought the Bergen County man to Manhattan Federal Court in 2020, claiming he signed an eight-year deal for eight seats in a suite that included food and beverages. The Yankees initially wanted an eye-popping $1.5 million before arbitrators knocked down the amount, and a judge later confirmed the award but it's unclear if Hass ever paid up.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Coles shoppers lose their minds after spotting popular item finally back on shelves for $2: 'I started crying'
Shoppers are flocking to supermarkets to stock up on the much-loved Hass avocados after a less popular season of the Shepard variety. Coles and Woolworths have delighted fans with the return of the fan favourite Hass avocados, which are now back in season from May through to January. During its absence, the controversial green-skinned Shepard variety takes over the fruit and vegetable aisles between February and April. After a long three-month wait, avocado fans are thrilled to see the ever-popular Hass back on shelves. 'I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Hass at Coles - I thought I was dreaming. It's been a painful couple of months without them,' a shopper told FEMAIL. 'I can't stand Shepard avocados. No matter how long I wait for them to ripen, they never taste as creamy or delicious as Hass. I've been avoiding buying avocados for the past three months... Until now.' Dozens of fans have expressed their excitement over the return of the Hass variety. 'Almost shed a tear finding Hass avocados at Woolies today... There's light at the end of the tunnel. It is a weekend for miracles,' one said. 'The way I just started crying,' another shared. 'This has relieved my Shepard depression,' one revealed. 'Yay! I have missed avocados,' another added. Many joked the 'war is over' while another pointed out: 'It's a good day to be in Australia' after spotting Hass at their local supermarket. 'Goodbye Shepard avocados and hello Hass I say,' one said. 'About time... I was sick of crunchy avocado,' another shared. However, some were sympathetic towards Shephard, with one saying: 'I feel bad for Shepard avocados… it's not their fault they are inferior to the Hass avos.' Every year, Australians vent their frustration at Shepard avocados, which are notoriously hard to tell when ripe. 'I had a bag of Shepherd avocados sitting on my counter for 15 days and they never ripened. Hard as a rock,' one said. 'In the history of the world has a Shepard avocado ever ripened because I've never seen one ripe,' another claimed. 'Shepard avocados are so much harder to get nice and ripe. I left one out for four days and when I opened it, it wasn't ripe enough and tasted like plastic,' one said. 'I wouldn't even call Shepherds a real Avocado - it has the consistency of a candle. Hass all the way,' another added. Shepard always stays green, even when ripe, while Hass changes colour as it ripens - going from a green to purple black. Hass has a creamy texture and taste while Shepard, which is less prone to bruising, has a nutty flavour and butter texture. Keeping avocados in a fruit bowl or brown paper bag with bananas can help speed up the ripening process.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Feature: Kenyan traders target vast Chinese market to boost agricultural exports
NAIROBI, April 24 (Xinhua) -- In the lush highlands of the central Kenyan county of Murang'a, Newton Ngure, a middle-aged entrepreneur, has forged long-term friendships with smallholder farmers who grow Hass avocado for local and international markets, with China emerging as a promising destination. "China is a huge market for our agricultural products, and more so for Hass avocado," he said. "It will be good for Kenyan exporters to comply with certification requirements to increase our export volumes." Since launching his start-up in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, Ngure has partnered with farmers, aggregators, and other players in the Hass avocado value chain. Now, the Kenyan business owner has set his sights on the Chinese market. On Thursday, Ngure spoke on the sidelines of the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) Promotion Conference, which brought together senior government officials, diplomats, industry executives, and budding entrepreneurs. As with Ngure who graced the half-day event, dozens of Kenyan traders also expressed the same desire to participate in this year's CAETE, which will be held in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province, from June 12 to 15. Ngure said his company is in talks with potential Chinese importers, aiming to ship 2,000 metric tons of Hass avocados each month. In the long term, Ngure said his firm, which primarily focuses on aggregation, aims to export up to 200,000 metric tons of Hass avocados to China, upon fulfilling all safety and hygiene standards mandated by Chinese customs. "China's market really has an appetite for Kenyan products, and it will be good that we look at the opportunities and comply," Ngure said. "We are working with various stakeholders to consolidate consignments for Hass avocado sourced countrywide. It is an opportune moment for us to venture into the Chinese market." Josephine Ndikwe, head of trade and exports at Jotim Coffee Limited, is also preparing to attend the 2025 CAETE with ambitions to solidify new partnerships. Her company, which specializes in premium coffee, has exported to China since 2022 -- with volumes rising due to favorable customs policies and growing consumer interest. Having partaken in the 2023 and 2024 editions of CAETE, Ndikwe hopes this year's expo will expand her company's footprint in the Chinese market. "What I look forward to is expanding my market reach in China. We also want to venture into exporting already finished goods. That is roasted coffee, Arabica beans because we believe the market in China is big," Ndikwe said. She added that against the backdrop of U.S. punitive import tariffs, China emerges as an alternative market for Kenya's coffee growers and exporters. According to Ezekiel Mosongo, head of bilateral trade at the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, Kenya aims to increase the volume of agricultural commodities exported to China, such as Hass avocado, coffee, macadamia, cut flowers, black tea, and aquatic products, as economic ties between the two sides are flourishing. Mosongo hailed China for reducing levies on Hass avocado and cut flowers imported from Kenya, adding that the government has prioritized value addition to boost the competitiveness of agricultural products overseas. Simon Gakinya, founder and managing director of Mount Kenya Specialty Tea and Coffee Co., Ltd., believes that policy harmonization and dialogue among businesses will be key to boosting the export of Kenya's agricultural commodities to China.
