The Idaho Potato Commission had one thing in mind when it launched its 2007 retail ad campaign: to show retailers the power of stocking Idaho potatoes.

Not only did it accomplish that, but the comic book-inspired ads it used received accolades for being among the best in the industry. The ad campaign won numerous awards from the National Agri-Marketing Association and the Idaho Advertising Federation, beating out well-known campaigns like the National Pork Board's "The Other White Meat."

Pro*Act announced at the end of June that NLaws Produce in Savannah, GA, has joined the company's distribution network.

NLaws Produce, a family-owned company, was founded by Steve Kaplan and Jay Epstein, friends and brothers in-law who have a combined 57 years of produce distribution experience. Located on the Georgia State Farmer's Market, operations are set to expand July 1 into neighboring space, giving the firm 35,000 square feet of operations. The facility boasts a refrigerated receiving dock and a superior third-party sanitation and security rating.

Some growers may cut back -- or pass up -- lettuce plantings for a fall harvest in Huron, CA, as a result of tight water supplies.

The fall Iceberg lettuce harvest in Huron typically runs for as long as five weeks and serves to fill a gap between the end of quality product from the California and Arizona desert areas and the start of the Iceberg lettuce harvest in the Salinas Valley.

Crops that require less irrigation and tillage than Iceberg lettuce could look attractive during times of tight water allocations.

International news agency CNN featured Kingsville, ON-based North American greenhouse tomato marketer Mastronardi Produce on the "Lou Dobbs Tonight" show on June 30.

With the focus of the produce industry centered on the Salmonella outbreak, CNN correspondent Kitty Pilgrim, sitting in for Lou Dobbs, was quick to point out the key successes of Mastronardi's traceability program.

For many years it was called Baesler's Meat Market, and this single store in Terre Haute, IN, was proud of that designation.

But Baesler's, now a full-service retailer, has dropped the "Meat" part of its name, and fourth-generation owner Bob Baesler said that produce is now the top draw -- and has been for quite some time.

"Produce is number one with our customers and it has been for probably the last eight years," said Mr. Baesler.