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Slicing boosts produce consumption for school-aged kids

Slicing fresh fruit and vegetables, such as apples, and serving them in ready-to-eat packages is more likely to entice school-aged kids to eat healthy than handing them whole apples, according to a new study.

The study supplied Las Vegas school children with either whole Red Delicious apples or packaged fresh apple slices treated with NatureSeal, the powdered product used to maintain color and crispness.

SALINAS SCENE: Earthbound Farm goes to college via agreement with Sodexho

San Juan Bautista, CA-based Earthbound Farm has partnered with California State University at Monterey Bay and Maryland-based foodservice provider Sodexho to provide organic produce for the university's cafeteria year round.

Credited with joining the parties together is Kari Bernardi, project coordinator for the Monterey County Farm to School Partnership, which is the local chapter of a national movement that links schools and farms.

Taylor Fresh Foods buys major stake in Pacific Pre-Cut Produce

Salinas, CA-based Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., the corporate parent of Taylor Farms, has acquired a majority interest in Tracy, CA-based Pacific Pre-Cut Produce. The acquisition gives Taylor a seamless national retail deli production and distribution network.

Pacific Pre-Cut Produce's retail deli items include a variety of fresh-cut vegetables, such as green leaf lettuce, sliced onions and tomatoes, fresh green salad kits and front-case deli salads.

'Real nice' apple crop for Michigan in 2005

"Overall, the crop for Michigan looks real nice," said John Schaefer Jr., president of Jack Brown Produce Inc. in Sparta, MI, who summed up the thoughts of Michigan apple grower-shippers as they got underway on a new positive shipping season.

The apple crop is good, said Barry Winkel of Greg Orchards & Produce Inc. in Benton Harbor, MI. It's better than last year. We have a lot cleaner crop than last year. There was a lot of rust last year. This year we dont have that. We have a lot of trickle irrigation, so the dry weather hasnt affected us much.

Pomegranate crop expected to be on the light side

By all accounts, the 2005 California pomegranate crop is on the light side and it is running a couple of weeks later than usual.

However, in late August, the crop was still sizing and grower-shippers said that there is a good chance that the larger-sized fruit will make up for the lighter fruit set.

Apparently a combination of rain and heat reduced the set this year and has led to the unusual crop conditions.

Farm Fresh Direct teams with seasoning company on new potato product line

With the Atkins Diet all but laid to rest, potatoes are making new consumer inroads this year, and Farm Fresh Direct LLC of Monte Vista, CO, has teamed up with seasoning giant Lawry's to present a new twist on spud cuisine.

Marketed under the brand "Lawrys Spice n Simple," the new line pairs five-pound bags of Farm Fresh Direct russet potatoes with one of three different flavor packets and recipes on how to prepare the new fare.

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