Innovative Fresh, a Netherlands-based company that provides strategy consulting services and market intelligence programs to fresh produce companies and retailers in Europe and Latin America, has joined FreshXperts, a consortium of consultants with expertise in business development, management, marketing, distribution and retail merchandising needs to produce companies, their distributors and retailers.

After a major March recall involving millions of pounds of its pistachios, Setton Pistachios of Terra Bella Inc. in Terra Bella, CA, has begun roasting and shipping pistachios once again.

Mia Cohen, chief operating officer, told The Produce News June 2 that the firm has "just this week resumed roasting and shipping pistachios after completing a series of important steps, with the knowledge of [the Food & Drug Administration]. We're shipping to our very loyal customers that have really supported us through this whole process, and we're focused on that right now."

Tim Ellison, director of the Arkansas Agriculture Department Plant Board in Little Rock, said that crop reports had not come into the office as of late May. "But the state did have a wet and cooler-than-normal spring, so word is that most vegetable and fruit crops will be somewhat stalled this season," he said.

Almost one year after the debut of Six L's Vintage Ripe tomatoes, the heirloom variety has found its stride with year-round production and nearly 25 percent more acreage.

The new Vintage Ripe tomato season kicked off June 1 with production coming from South Carolina. The deal then transitions to Virginia for the months of July through October before rounding out the season with Florida production November through May.

For most consumers, lettuce and tomatoes go hand in hand. But in the produce department, the tomato category has definitely outdistanced its salad and burger complement in recent years.

While the lettuce category had a great run with the addition of value-added items in the 1990s, unlike the tomato category it has not seen a lot of innovation in the past decade. But that might be changing.

WASHINGTON -- United Fresh Produce Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel testified in Congress June 3 that he is concerned that a draft food-safety bill ready for markup this month could derail the produce industry's traceability initiative.

At a four-hour hearing before the House Energy & Commerce Health subcommittee, Mr. Stenzel said that Congress should allow only commodity- specific standards for fresh produce that apply equally to domestic- and foreign-grown products.