MONTEREY, CA -- The "plumbing" largely is in place to move forward with the broad initiative of produce traceability, according to Gary Fleming, the Produce Marketing Association's vice president of industry technology and standards.

In the fall, millions of kids across the United States will learn about the exciting world of Idaho potatoes. "Awesome Adventures," an award-winning weekly syndicated television series, takes kids ages 13-16 on incredible journeys around the world -- and Boise, ID, was their latest adventure destination.

WASHINGTON -- Fresh fruit and vegetable businesses should not expect any surprises from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's long-awaited final country-of-origin labeling regulation that goes into effect March 15.

The Jan. 15 final rule is similar to the Aug. 1, 2008, interim final rule, according to Ken Gilliland, director of transportation and international trade for the Western Growers Association. "It pretty much follows the interim final rule with a slight tweaking," he told The Produce News.

The Salinas, CA-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California has hired Joann Greathead as its first-ever director of membership in its nearly 80-year history.

For Ms. Greathead, the role means a change of venue within the GSA building: For the past five years, she was manager of the Central California Lettuce Producers Cooperative. She stepped into her new role Jan. 5.

Annie Cheatham has been selected to lead the New England Farmers Union. Formed in 2006, the union represents farming and fishing families in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

A proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service would lift a ban on the shipment of Hass avocados from Peru into the continental United States, subject to the implementation of a phytosanitary protocol similar to that required for other imported fruit.

APHIS issued a notice of the proposed rule Jan. 6 and published the notice in the Federal Register Jan. 7. The proposal is now in a comment period, and APHIS will "consider all comments received on or before March 9," according to the notice.