WASHINGTON -- With landmark food-safety legislation likely to reach the Senate floor in the coming days, small growers and processors are pressuring lawmakers to exempt them from the traceability and fresh produce provisions.

The Senate was expected to vote on S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, the week of April 19, and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) said that he would like to send it to President Obama for approval next month. The House of Representatives passed a similar, but more prescriptive, bill last summer.

At 8.3 million cartons, the 2009 California sweet cherry crop was the second largest on record, according to Jim Culbertson, executive manager of the California Cherry Advisory Board in Lodi, CA. Bings accounted for about 5.6 million cartons, with Brooks and Tulares, the two major early varieties, constituting most of the balance, although a number of other varieties are grown as well.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importer's Association has developed its 2010-11 category management plan outline for fresh Peruvian asparagus.

"We have shaped our category management plan outline as a tool that will be essential for all involved in the trade of fresh asparagus," Priscilla Lleras, PAIA coordinator, said in an April 8 press release. "The plan is comprised with statistics identifying market growth, trends, industry facts and key demographics for 2010, as well as suggested methods to optimize sales within the category."

CHEP, a leader in pallet and container pooling, released a study April 1 that it says validates the company's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and confirms the sustainability credentials of its equipment pooling solution.

In coordination with the release of the report, CHEP launched a new web site -- www.chep.com/knowthefacts.com -- to help companies better understand how the use of CHEP pallets reduces their carbon footprint.

CARPINTERIA, CA -- Founders Art and Magda Overgaag have kept a family tradition of greenhouse growing alive and prospering for 40 years with innovation, adaptability and a commitment to quality.

In late February, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that because of above-normal precipitation year-to-date, the Central Valley Project, which provides water to farmers served by the Westlands Water District on the once-bountiful West Side of California's San Joaquin Valley, would get a 5 percent water allocation for 2010 and that if the rainfall continued, the allocation might be increased to 30-40 percent.