WASHINGTON -- A group of some 50 produce industry leaders from every stage of the supply chain have come together to begin work on a major initiative to drive harmonization of standards and audits for Good Agricultural Practices.

The group was convened following widespread interest in harmonization voiced by industry leaders at the Global Conference on Produce Food Safety Standards, held in conjunction with the United Fresh Produce Association convention in April.

ANAHEIM, CA -- Produce and floral suppliers from across the United States and around the world donated an estimated 243,000 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers Oct. 14 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

The donation -- made by companies exhibiting at the Produce Marketing Association's 60th anniversary Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition at the Anaheim Convention Center -- is the largest fresh produce donation received to date by the food bank.

ANAHEIM, CA -- Ecuador's mango industry has dropped acreage and increased production in the last six years. Such efficiency is key to the industry, according to Bernardo Malo, president of the Guayaquil-based Mango Ecuador Foundation.

In 2003, Ecuadorian growers utilized 20,000 acres of mangos; by 2009 that number had dropped to about 13,800 acres, according to Mr. Malo.

Uesugi Farms Inc., a Gilroy, CA-based grower-packer-shipper of Bell peppers, chili peppers, Napa cabbage, bok choy, strawberries and pumpkins, has added eggplant and winter Napa cabbage to its list of commodities.

Pete Aiello, general manager of Uesugi Farms, told The Produce News Oct. 7 that the firm later this month will start to harvest two varieties of eggplants, Italian and Japanese, which it is growing on approximately six acres in California's Coachella Valley.

WASHINGTON -- Retail food prices decreased overall for the fourth consecutive quarter, but the prices of bagged salads increased the most since last year, according to a new survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Of the 16 food items tracked in the federation's Marketbasket Survey, nine decreased and seven increased in average price compared to the prior quarter, the group announced Oct. 5.

VANCOUVER, BC -- For the first time ever, imported fresh blueberries will come to market in the "Ocean Spray" label this fall.

Ocean Spray in Lakeville, MA, and its marketing partner, The Oppenheimer Group, will offer fresh blueberries from Argentina beginning in mid-October, followed by fruit from Chile in mid-December. The berries will be available through early March.