International Fruit Genetics, a major table grape and stone fruit breeding organization in Bakersfield, CA, said that its new table grape variety called Sweet Sunshine has surpassed expectations.

The first commercial crop of Sweet Sunshine has been harvested in Arvin, CA, by Grapery, a grape producer owned by Jack Pandol.

Sweet Sunshine is a mid-season, naturally large, elongated, white seedless grape that ripens with similar timing to Thompson seedless but is said to be larger, crunchier and more flavorful.

Let's face it, some people are just born into this world to fill some pretty big boots. Reagan Bush, who joined the sales team at Harvest Select in Monte Vista, CO, this past May, can give some insight if you're a tad skeptical.

Mr. Bush, who hails from Texas but is no relation to the current president of the United States, does have some incontrovertible ties to America's 40th president and 33rd governor of the state of California, however.

Food safety remains in the spotlight this year, in part due to the most recent high-profile foodborne illness outbreak linked to fresh produce. Substantial changes are needed to restore consumer confidence in produce safety, and to address regulators' and legislators' concerns.

An interactive town hall meeting and other educational workshops at Produce Marketing Association's 2008 Fresh Summit international convention and exposition, to be held Oct. 24-27 in Orlando, FL, will tackle this issue head on.

The 2008 fall produce season is underway and should be highlighted by good quantities of high-quality produce, even though some scattered areas around south Jersey, where the majority of the state's commercial crops are grown, received significant hail damage Aug. 10 to crops at certain farms.

WASHINGTON -- United Fresh Produce Association members spent little time celebrating the success of a newly passed farm bill at the group's recent Washington Public Policy Conference, even though it promises to deliver billions of dollars to support fruit and vegetable programs.

Instead, United Fresh members who traveled to the nation's capital during the annual conference focused on making sure promises are kept on funding the farm bill, along with a short list of legislative must-haves.

PARMA, ID -- With more than a century of farming expertise at work in many of its orchards, Idaho has long contributed to the production of Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Rome, Jonagold, Jonathan and Braeburn apples of the western United States.

Last year, as the result of spring freezes, the state saw a reduced crop, but 2008 is shaping up to be a good season for Idaho's apple varieties across the board.

"The Idaho apple industry is optimistic about this crop," said Candi Fitch, executive director of the Idaho Apple Commission.