The California apple industry is anticipating an excellent year with its 2010 crop. "We're just really excited about the quality," said Alexander Ott, executive director of the California Apple Commission. “We are expecting a good-sized, quality crop.”

The news is especially important since 2009 did not represent one of the state’s better crop years. “Compared to last year, 2010 will be really good,” Mr. Ott said.

Representatives from the Pacific Northwest have full schedules this summer and fall as they promote the region's potatoes.

Matt Harris, director of trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, concluded a three-day trip at the end of July to attend a hearing of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, which is reviewing dumping duties placed upon fresh U.S. potatoes exported to British Columbia. "Our position as a commission is to remove those dumping duties and let a free market for fresh potatoes occur in that region," Mr. Harris told The Produce News.

WASHINGTON -- By unanimous consent, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307) passed the Senate Thursday afternoon, Aug. 5, receiving accolades from the United Fresh Produce Association.

Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, introduced the legislation earlier this year, which will "expand access to the child nutrition programs to reduce childhood hunger, improve the nutritional quality of school meals to promote health and address childhood obesity," according to United.

With the Texas Produce Association's annual convention set to kick off Aug. 11 on South Padre Island, the state’s produce growers, shippers and importers are faced with some challenges unique to — and opportunities as large as — the Lone Star State itself.

"There are always problems, but there are also some trends that are very favorable," John McClung, president and chief executive officer of the association, told The Produce News in an Aug. 2 interview.

GILROY, CA -- On the eve of the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, Meg Whitman, a California gubernatorial candidate, toured Christopher Ranch. Don and Bill Christopher were her tour hosts and showed her around the 50-plus year-old home ranch here.

WILLIMANTIC, CT — "Business is very, very good, and we owe it all to our perishables departments," stated Robert A. Buonomano. He was referring to all of the store's perishable areas, such as bakery, deli and cheese, but primarily to produce — which accounts for about 12-15 percent of the retailer’s sales, depending on the season — and to meat, which generally accounts for about 40 percent of the weekly volume.

“I’m really happy with the produce department,” he said, noting that customers give him favorable comments about produce on a regular basis.