The government of Mexico held its official opening of a consulate office Aug. 29 in Leamington, ON. The purpose of the office and the staff's assigned functions may well prove to be a lesson for other countries, including the United States.

SUN VALLEY, ID  At a meeting held here Aug. 31, the Idaho Potato Commission unveiled a new "Idaho" label that shippers can use at their option on bags of Idaho-grown potatoes.

In announcing the new label, commission President Frank Muir emphasized that it is not mandatory and will not be featured in commission advertising programs, which will focus, rather, on the Grown in Idaho seal. But he said that it makes sense for shippers to use the new Idaho label as an opportunity to market Idaho.

Santa Ana, CA-based strawberry grower Mark Murai assumed the role of interim president of the California Strawberry Commission, effective Aug. 29.

Mr. Murai, a third-generation Orange County grower and president of Murai Farms, has served on the commission's board of directors for 17 years and led the organization as its chairman of the board from 2002 to 2004. As chairman, he regularly communicated with state, federal and international governments. Prior to accepting the appointment, Mr. Murai was a grower member-at-large with the commission.

WASHINGTON  Federal food safety officials warned processors and repackers about a recall of basil after saying a California company was not doing enough to alert its consignees to the problem.

Majestic International Spice Corp. in Montebello, CA, is recalling its dehydrated Extra Fancy Basil in 12.5-kilogram bags because FDA said that it found the product contaminated with Salmonella Blockley during routine sampling.

Salinas, CA-based Epic Roots LLC, a grower and distributor of specialty greens, has announced the introduction of "Chard Mix," a ready-to-cook, multi-colored assortment of Bright Lights chard and Salad Savoy.

Bright Lights is a new generation of Swiss chard with delicately flavored brightly colored leaves of gold, orange, pink, red and white. Salad Savoy is a member of the cabbage family, while chard is actually a beet green that is grown for its delicious and nutritious leaves rather than its root.

The Produce Marketing Association's task force moved forward with its effort to create a laymans DVD for using radio frequency identification. The task force met Aug. 18 in Dallas.

Michael McCartney, principal of QLM Consulting and chairman of Produce Marketing Associations RFID produce action group, said that the DVD will be ready before PMAs Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta in early November and will be on hand at the convention. The cost of the DVD has yet to be determined, Mr. McCartney said.