The deadline for onion buyers to apply for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee’s yearly VIP Tour is Aug. 21, with the event set for Oct. 3-5 in Onion Country USA.

Applicants who are selected for the expense-paid event will be notified by Sept. 3.

The VIP Tour includes airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation and entertainment. Group stops will be at fields being harvested as well as at onion-packing operations, where the sales staff will be ready to answer all questions.

The New England Produce Council held its 28th annual golf tournament Tuesday, July 23, at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA. About 132 golfers participated at the event, according to NEPC Executive Director Laura Sullivan.

As in previous years, money raised from the golf tournament will benefit the NEPC Scholarship Fund.

The council’s next event will be its annual Produce, Floral & Food Service Expo, scheduled to take place Aug. 19-20 at the Encore Boston Harbor.

Fresh off his return from Peru, Delbert Bland learned exciting news about Bland Farms’ Vidalia Sweet Onions. This year, Vidalia Sweet Onions will be available until early October — a rare treat for onion lovers. According to Delbert Bland, owner of Glennville, GA-based Bland Farms, this is a great problem to have.

The Kroger Co. is expanding its Our Brands portfolio with the addition of Field & Vine, a fresh produce line grown by U.S. farmers in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington. The brand currently includes blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture implements the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) Inspection Program under the jurisdiction of the FDA, using FDA’s program standards.

First Kiss apples will be an early variety primer to the fall season. Available from Midwest facilities in mid-August,  this bright and sassy variety provides a jump start to new fresh crop sales. First Kiss, which debuted in limited supply to a fan base of committed consumers over the past few years, is headed back to retailer shelves in even greater numbers this season.