Mushroom sales hit an all-time high in 2010 and exceeded $1 billion, according to the recently revised U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service Annual Mushroom Crop Report, which also revealed that production of all varieties rose 9 percent from the previous year to a record 861 million pounds.

DEMAND

Northwest russet shippers have been seeing light demand and heavy supplies. Salinas shippers were expecting Canadian customers to return to the West Coast the weeks of Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 for row crop supplies.

TRANSPORTATION & FUEL

The availability of trucks in the Northwest is very limited and buyers should plan well ahead. Truck availability on the West Coast is adequate.

As the fall weather approaches and the leaves change color, the staff at California Giant Berry Farms is seeing peak season berries change from red to blue in anticipation of a new blueberry season emerging in South America.

WASHINGTON — Officials from the the Food & Drug Administration asked the produce industry to support a government-led standardized research strategy for soil amendments and water quality, the results of which could be used to prove farms can take an alternative approach to meeting new produce-safety standards.

The Obama administration submitted three free trade agreements to Congress Oct. 3, and approvals for the agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama are expected to come quickly.

In submitting the proposals, President Obama issued a statement urging their passage as part of a plan to help improve the U.S. economy.

Dewayne Harrell

Boskovich Farms, grower-shipper-processor of fresh produce, announced Sept.