WASHINGTON -- Specialty crop producers across the country praised the House of Representatives for passing a farm bill flush with more than $1.6 billion for specialty crop programs.

But opponents called it a business-as-usual extension of the 2002 farm bill loaded down with costly farmer subsidies and in danger of being picked apart in the Senate. Despite a veto threat by President Bush, who opposes the size of government subsidies, the House passed the five-year, $286 billion bill on July 27.

The Washington State Potato Commission continues to fund a number of projects that help promote the value of potato consumption for consumers and professionals alike. The commission's potato-related material is promoted through school programs, recipe booklets and posters, industry brochures, and related publications.

Assistant Executive Director Karen Bonaudi said that the commission's marketing committee continues to look at funding a number of projects. "We have some programs we like a lot," she told The Produce News.

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ -- By the end of 2007, the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, based in Citrus Dal, South Africa, hopes to be more actively involved in promoting South African citrus in the United States.

Piet Smit, managing director of the forum, met with The Produce News July 24 at the organization's office at the Gloucester Marine Terminal LLC, here, to outline the future of his organization.

Sage Fruit Co. has struck a deal with Larson Fruit Co. in Selah, WA, to become its exclusive marketing and sales agent, beginning with new-crop apples in 2007.

"We are very excited to have a new partner the caliber of Larson Fruit join our team," Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit, said in a press release. "They have excellent quality and grow all varieties of apples. I have seen the quality of box that they deliver to the marketplace, and it will complement our current warehouses."

The California Department of Food & Agriculture issued a pest exclusion advisory July 18 that reversed its policy of excluding from the state commercial shipments of Mexican avocados containing armored scales, a pest that is of considerable concern to California avocado growers.

Although a poorly written press release seemingly states otherwise, the California Department of Public Health said that its warning against eating fresh ginger from China is limited only to specific lot numbers sold by Christopher Ranch of Gilroy, CA, between July 10 and July 26.