WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association announced April 28 the 12 new candidates selected to take part in the 2009-10 United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program.

A yearlong program that teaches leadership skills to future industry leaders, the Produce Industry Leadership Program will welcome the following professionals to its 15th class:

Members of the Coalition for Transportation Productivity traveled to Capitol Hill in mid-April to talk with congressional leaders and regulators about reforms that could make the national transportation system more efficient.

Matt Harris, director of trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, said, "The whole thought is to use the system as it exists." For this reason, he said, the coalition supports an increase of the national truck weight limit to 97,000 pounds from 80,000 pounds. The weight increase would necessitate that trucks operate with three sets of axles.

If U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar expected to hear cheers from farmers and farmworkers when he came to California April 15 to announce $260 million in federal funding for California water projects, he was disappointed.

Even as the announcement was being made, an estimated 10,000 farmers and farmworkers were engaged in a four-day march to the nearly empty San Luis Reservoir to protest water cuts that have forced more than 300,000 acres of cropland out of production and eliminated thousands of jobs.

Spring is in the air, which means fresh California-grown avocados and strawberries are hitting the produce aisles at Walmart Supercenters throughout California, including in Hemet.

In recognition of spring's bounty, Walmart hosted Hemet Mayor Eric McBride and Riverside Deputy Agriculture Secretary Ron Bray April 16 to highlight the partnership between Walmart and California farmers, as well as to encourage customers to take advantage of fresh, locally grown avocados and strawberries available at their local Walmart Supercenter.

LAS_VEGAS -- An announced crowd of 4,000 registrants met here April 21- 24 for the United Fresh Produce Association's annual convention and trade show.

Outgoing Chairman of the Board Tom Lovelace of McEntire Produce in Columbia, SC, told the opening general session participants that the registration for this stand-alone show topped last year's number when United shared its show with the Food Marketing Institute. FMI is returning to Las Vegas next year, but United will again go it alone at the same venue and roughly the same timing.

LAS VEGAS -- In what is basically a swapping of positions, Salinas, CA-based Growers Express LLC has become the holder of the master license agreement for the "Green Giant Fresh" brand, while the previous holder of that agreement, The Sholl Group II, has become a sub-license holder for use of the brand in the value-added sector.

Woody Johnson , senior vice president of Growers Express and general manager of the new venture, told The Produce News that his firm had become the volume leader so it made sense that it manage the branding agreement with the 13 other sub-licensees.