WASHINGTON -- Starting next fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to launch a new pilot program that offers incentives for low-income Americans to purchase more fruits and vegetables under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Massachusetts will operate the Healthy Incentives Pilot and enroll 7,500 randomly selected SNAP households, which will receive financial incentives to purchase fruits and vegetables.

A&A Organic Marketing Inc., a grower-shipper of organic produce, has changed its company name and logo to A&A Organic Farms Corp.

"We felt that changing our name better represents who we are and what we do," Andy Martin, president of the Watsonville, CA-based firm, said in an Aug. 24 press release. With nearly two decades of experience serving as a sales agent for organic farmers, A&A Organic Farms has expanded its role as a grower and shipper of organic fruits and vegetables.

Peri & Sons Farms, based in Yerington, NV, launched its newly redesigned and expanded web site, which was developed to showcase the firm's enduring farming history-spanning over a hundred years and three generations-as well as communicate the company's progressive philosophy in the areas of food safety and traceability.

Fruit Patch, a Dinuba, CA-based packer and marketer of peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes and specialty citrus, announced Aug. 23 that Sheri Mierau will resign as vice president of sales and marketing, effective Sept. 30.

"Sheri is getting married and relocating to Southern California in early September,"Scott Wallace, chief executive officer of Fruit Patch, said in an Aug. 23 press release. "Everyone at Fruit Patch is happy for her and wishes her the best in her new life."

A very cold winter in the Southern Hemisphere country of Peru has hampered asparagus production and should continue to have an impact through the month of September, according to one of the leading importers of the commodity.

Julia Inestroza, marketing director of Gourmet Trading Co., based in Los Angeles, said, "Given the cold weather we've had the last month or so, we predict there will be some residual market effects until mid-September. By October, there should be an abundance of product."

An innovative partnership between the Produce Marketing Association, Sysco Corp. and PrimusLabs.com is providing much-needed produce food safety training to small growers across America to help them increase their produce sales. Local growers, including PMA members and those interested in doing business with Sysco, can receive training via a series of workshops held around the country. The workshops are designed to help growers understand current food safety demands, how to meet them and how to navigate food safety requirements.