COLLEGE PARK, MD -- With the Food & Drug Administration just beginning to consider a more stringent federal produce safety program, a new group of state food officials is drafting a model regulation that could be adopted by all 50 states.

Retailers, restaurants and produce industry groups have been drafting food- safety protocols in response to recent outbreaks, and now there is one more group in the mix.

The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA, has announced that its Valley of the World Hall of Fame honored George Boutonnet, Joe Nucci, and Art, Dick and Gene Sbrana posthumously.

The new inductees will receive permanent recognition in a visual display to be installed in the fall in the museum. The National Steinbeck Center established the Valley of the World Hall of Fame in 2005 to recognize key pioneers of the Salinas Valley Agricultural Industry. The Hall of Fame will grow each year as new members are recognized.

The status of intermodal rail transportation from the port of Quincy in the state of Washington is unclear at this time, but governmental officials are hard at work to bring the project to fruition.

On March 28, Washington state Rep. Judy Warnick (Dist. 13) and 13 of her legislative colleagues sent a letter to Patrick Kinne of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway's Intermodal Division urging that efforts be stepped up to formalize the service.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association has developed and is now distributing its 2007-08 Category Management Plan Outline for Fresh Peruvian Asparagus. The outline identifies market growth, trends and industry facts as well as information that will aid retailers in the marketing and promotion of Peruvian asparagus, ultimately, assisting in their efforts to increase sales.

The category plan outline provides consumers with information pertaining to the nutritional value of fresh Peruvian asparagus.

LeRoy Giannini, owner of Giannini Packing Corp., a pioneer in the California nectarine industry, and for 30 years chairman of the Nectarine Administrative Committee, died April 15 in a hospital in Visalia, CA, just a few miles from his home in Dinuba. He was 87.

The Federal-State Market News Service reported in mid-April that 50-pound sacks of yellow onions had an f.o.b. price near $30, while a limited supply of white onions was still topping $50 per 50-pound sack. These prices are not much different than they were six weeks ago and even before that.

While the dollar figures themselves are remarkable, what makes this such a compelling story is that the market has remained at this unusually high level for such a long period of time.