As a result of a highly targeted regional promotion, Tanimura & Antle, based in Salinas, CA, is seeing an increase in sales and retailer interest in the company's innovative "Living Lettuce" product.

Leveraging a creative Live from Tennessee theme, Tanimura & Antle's promotion included a direct-mail program, promotional web site, advertising campaign and sales team support to communicate directly with produce buyers. The results-oriented effort has gained 13 new accounts and an impressive increase in individual customer sales.

The committee developing voluntary national standards for sustainable agriculture approved a set of principles that outline its work for the next two years at a meeting June 14-15 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Also, the committee was told that legal opinions held that the copyright of any standards developed would be owned by the committee.

Karen Antle was recognized as the Ag Woman of the Year for Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties at an event held June 11 at Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad hosted by Ag Against Hunger.

This annual luncheon recognizes a woman who has contributed significantly to the success of the tri-county agricultural industry.

WASHINGTON -- The 2010 Dietary Guidelines should recommend that Americans shift their food intake patterns to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, according to a new report delivered June 15 to top Obama administration officials.

Every five years, the federal government names an advisory panel to scrutinize the latest science and make nutritional recommendations to the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Health & Human Services that later become the Dietary Guidelines.

Cold spring weather and a shift in California varieties have combined to create a demand-exceeds-supply situation in the early stages of the plum market this year.

The U.S. Federal State Market News Service reported June 14 that plum prices are about $25 per carton f.o.b., which is about 25 percent more than nectarines and 60 percent more than peaches.

"The plum deal isn't like it used to be," said Gary Van Sickle, president of the California Tree Fruit Agreement. "We just don't have the early volume like we used to."

BONITA SPRINGS, FL -- Water, water everywhere -- and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is mostly loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus, so much so that the agency has created a set of new runoff regulations for Florida's lakes, springs and rivers that could drown the state's farmers in a sea of red tape and increased costs.

About 200 Florida citrus growers packed a panel discussion on the new EPA numeric nutrient criteria at the Florida citrus industry annual conference June 10 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, here.