After reviewing results of the U.S. Potato Board?s domestic and international marketing programs and discussing the future of those programs on budgets that have been static for more than 20 years, board members voted during the board?s annual meeting March 19 to increase the assessment.

Eighty-eight percent supported the funding increase from 2 cents per cwt. to 2.5 cents per cwt., with a delayed start date of March 1, 2006.

An apple a day can help keep breast cancer away, according to a study published recently by food scientists at Cornell University.

It's the latest in a series of new university research from around the world supporting the dramatic health benefits of eating apples.

?We found that tumor incidence was reduced by 17, 39 and 44 percent in rats fed the human equivalent of one, three or six apples a day, respectively, over 24 weeks," said Rui Hai Liu, Cornell associate professor of food science at the university?s agricultural experiment station in Geneva, NY.

MINNEAPOLIS " In response to the unprecedented natural disaster in Southeast Asia, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. and its employees have donated $90,000 to tsunami relief efforts. C.H. Robinson matched 100 percent of its employees? contributions, which totaled $45,000.

Syngenta Seeds Inc./?Rogers? brand vegetables has announced that Norma Standerford has taken on a newly created role as strategic account manager, responsible for focusing breeders on traits beyond the grower and developing products designed specifically for markets by understanding the requirements of downstream customers.

Ms. Standerford will initially be addressing needs in the fresh-cut processor segment.

Peter Rabbit is hopping on 5 A Day The Color Way this spring, and he wants children and their families to join him in eating more healthfully.

The beloved Beatrix Potter bunny and his family had kids hopping in the produce aisles over the prospect of eating a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables when they visited Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets across the country March 12. The "Hop on 5 A Day The Color Way? promotion was sponsored by the nonprofit educational Produce for Better Health Foundation, Wal-Mart and 14 health-minded suppliers.

TAMPA, FL " Attendees of the Southeast Produce Council?s recent conference and expo had an opportunity to visit a strawberry laboratory and private company to gain insight into what it takes to produce the high-quality product that Florida is known for.

The council?s second annual Retail & Foodservice Conference and Expo took place March 10-12 here, close to the Plant City-Dover area of the state known as the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the World," so it was a natural that the council dubbed this part of the event the "very berry field tours."