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Trade groups race to craft food safety plan

WASHINGTON -- Spinach growers are watching time run out as speculation continues on the cause of the spinach outbreak and what should be done to fix it.

Railcar program a unique opportunity to solve transportation problems

Growers of Washington potatoes, apples and onions had a chance to talk with Mike Begnaud, who handles sales for Rail Logistics LC about new rail service through the Washington Produce Railcar Pool program. Mr. Begnaud arrived in Moses Lake, WA, on Sept. 18 to visit with the Washington State Potato Commission and coordinate grower visits prior to his return to Overland Park, KS.

CPMA raises concerns over new USDA inspections

WASHINGTON -- Canadian produce marketers have raised concerns about new user fees due to be levied on Canadian shipments of fruits and vegetables to help pick up the tab for increased U.S. inspections.

The issue surfaced during high-level trade negotiations between the agriculture chiefs of the two countries earlier this month.

Acompora benefit set for Oct. 14

The New York -- and national -- produce industries have been big supporters of the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation. A fundraiser three years ago was so successful -- it raised $430,000 -- that the effort was sufficient to fund the activities of the all-volunteer foundation for three years.

John Acompora, the father of the late high school lacrosse player Louis Acompora, said that the foundation is again in need of funding. He hopes a grand fundraiser planned for Oct. 14 will be sufficient to fund the foundation for another three years.

Kuperus welcomes FDA declaration on New Jersey spinach

TRENTON, NJ -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus welcomed the Food & Drug Administration's decision to declare spinach grown outside a three-county area in California safe for consumption.

Connecticut Department of Agriculture officially names new mascots

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Veggie Mascots were officially named during a special ceremony that was held at the Big E on Wednesday, Sept. 20, Connecticut Day.

The names were selected from suggestions submitted by residents throughout Connecticut, and the individuals who submitted the winning names were greeted and introduced by Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli during the ceremony.

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