WASHINGTON -- Only about a third of retailers audited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are in full compliance with mandatory country-of- origin labeling and recordkeeping rules, a top USDA official said Jan. 19 during a webinar sponsored by the Produce Marketing Association.

While that is an "outstanding attribute" for stores learning the ropes of the new COOL law, there is still room for improvement, said Martin O'Connor, chief of the Standards, Analysis & Technology Branch of the Livestock & Seed Program at USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

CMI and fitness expert Leslie Sansone announced the release of Ms. Sansone's new and unique DVD that combines indoor walking with Pilates. Each DVD includes a card touting Ambrosia apples and a $2 off any current in-store Leslie Sansone DVD. CMI is the exclusive grower-shipper of U.S.- grown Ambrosia apples.

Ambrosia apples have a skin that is bright with an almost iridescent pink blush over a creamy background. The flavor is sweet and the flesh is tender and juicy, with a very fine, crisp texture. It is a sweet, low-acid apple with a pleasing aroma.

Garrison Cold Storage, situated eight miles from the port of Long Beach, CA, fired up its new refrigerated storage facility Jan. 18.

"We're mainly designed to handle fresh produce," General Manager Steve Karo told The Produce News Jan. 22, adding that the business handles both domestic and imported product.

Guatemala was dominating the cantaloupe business in mid-January as Honduras and Costa Rica were nearing their seasonal increase in exports to the United States.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture movement reports on Jan. 20, for the young year to date, arrivals in the United States of Guatemalan cantaloupes totaled 5,403 40,000-pound (truckload) units. This far exceeded Guatemala's melon volume of 2,165 truckloads by the same date a year ago.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would very much like Douglas Fisher to continue in his post as the state's secretary of agriculture.

To that end, the governor released the following statement of support Jan. 26: "Secretary Douglas Fisher has proven to have a deep appreciation for New Jersey’s agricultural community that will be a valued addition to the Christie administration. I support his position as secretary for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and look forward to working with him to promote and protect our state’s natural assets."

The term "going south" has only positive implications for Superior Sales, a long-time produce grower-distributor based in Hudsonville, MI, which is formally launching operations at the border of Mexico and Arizona.

The Nogales operation is headed by Brian LaForest and staffed by Steve Murphy and Omar Castillo.