VANCOUVER, BC -- Perhaps mirroring a rebounding economy that was touted throughout the gathering, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 85th annual convention and trade show set an attendance record when more than 3,300 produce professionals participated in the event, held here May 12-14.

A federal judge ruled May 18 that government agencies must take into account the human costs -- not just the effect on wildlife -- when restricting water allocations to farmers and other water users. The judge also stated that decisions to cut farm water deliveries in Central California, with the expressed intent of protecting endangered fish species, were based on flawed science.

The California Tree Fruit Agreement conducted some new research last year identifying "retailers who did the best job with the whole stone fruit category" in an effort to determine factors accounting for their success.

Green Giant Fresh, based in Salinas, CA, is building a bridge between a virtual farming phenomenon and a real shopping experience with the launch of its promotion with Internet gaming sensation FarmVille.

While the rich heritage of the iconic "Green Giant" brand is no stranger to American consumers, FarmVille has taken the country by storm and in less than a year has become the No. 1 gaming application on Facebook, with nearly 80 million people playing the game worldwide.

After competing in local competitions across Canada, five top culinary students represented their region in a final competition to prove who is beyond compare when it comes to pears.

The Pear Bureau Northwest's third annual "Pear Excellence" recipe competition, which is open to Canadian culinary students only, named a National Grand Prize winner May 11 following a heated competition that took place at the Culinaria Restaurant at The Art Institute of Vancouver.

The joining of two produce firms in the Twin Cities area is "coming along well," according to Phillip Brooks, chief executive officer of H. Brooks & Co., the New Brighton, MN-based company that joined forces with Brings Co., a fresh produce distributor that specializes in onions and is based in St. Paul, MN.

Mr. Brooks spoke with The Produce News May 18 on the heels of the deal that was announced March 30. Brings Co. and its employees moved into the Brooks warehouse on April 24.