Bab? Farms in Santa Maria, CA, is re-introducing six of its value-added baby veggies in new two-pound packaging.

French beans, yellow wax beans, sno peas, baby squash, baby zucchini and hand-peeled baby carrots now come in packaging that assures 14-day shelf life with optimum refrigeration.

In addition to delivering farm-fresh flavor and appearance that can establish brand preference, the new packaging offers the convenience of in-the-bag preparation for microwaving, steaming or boiling.

WASHINGTON " A new European Union rule slated to go into effect April 1 will require that all U.S. apples for the European market be inspected, a move that has infuriated U.S. apple companies.

The U.S. apple industry has been pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fight the April 1 rule as a trade barrier, and its efforts may be paying off as new Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns pledged to help resolve the issue at a congressional hearing last month.

Continuing its efforts to link diet with health, California-based Kaiser Permanente has made space available in one of its hospital campuses for a retail market that is truly a health food store.

The Food Mill, an Oakland, CA, fixture for the past 70 years, has opened a second store based on the premise that it only sells healthy items.

'We only sell items that are good for you,' said Kirk Watkins, owner and produce buyer. "Our items have no trans fat and are low in carbs, sugars and fats. A diabetic could shop this store and eat anything in it."

Fruit industry veteran Neil Galone recently relocated from the Yakima Valley in Washington state to the mid-Columbia area of Oregon and Washington, where he has taken the position of vice president of marketing for Diamond Fruit Growers Inc. in Odell, OR.

Mr. Galone, who brought 25 years of experience to the Diamond team when he arrived Feb. 14, will eventually replace Marketing Vice President Gerry Jessup, who will retire in late May.

New research shows that people may inherit their sense of taste, and this may influence how consumers can boost servings of certain fruits and vegetables to meet new health recommendations.

Consumers rely on taste as a top factor for buying fresh fruits and vegetables, and using information on taste preference may be the best way to sell more fruits and vegetables.

In the early throes of the Winn-Dixie filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the size of the debt is as much speculation as anything else. With that said, the early speculation is that the produce debt could reach $20 million.