McCALL, ID — In addition to seating the 2011-12 board of directors and officers at its 49th annual convention, held here June 9-11, the Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association heard industry updates from keynote speakers, Idaho state Sen. Tim Corder (R) and Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of the United Fresh Produce Association.

WASHINGTON — Four cantaloupe shipments from Honduras were among the 17 recalls a new government study said shows that the Food & Drug Administration’s recall guidelines are not adequate to police imports.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services auditors looked at food recalls from 2007 and 2008 and checked to see if companies followed the FDA recall guidelines and if the administration followed through with audit checks.

Walter P. Rawl & Sons, based in Pelion, SC, announced a partnership with fruit and vegetable advocate and cookbook author, Missy Chase Lapine, also known as The Sneaky Chef.

A new report co-sponsored by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales, AZ, and the Washington-based U.S. Chamber of Commerce urges the U.S. government to improve inter-agency cooperation in order to “reduce bottlenecks of commercial shipments at the U.S.-Mexico border,” according to a June 8 FPAA press release.

The Mango Mania Display Contest, the first of its kind conducted by the National Mango Board, will run through the month of July. With more than $10,000 in cash prizes, the contest is designed specifically for small retailers with up to 50 stores.

To make it easy for retailers to get involved, the board has shipped store kits to retailers with 10-50 store locations.

Fresh commodity producers have an opportunity to heighten consumer knowledge and gain brand recognition through their participation in the Pride of New York program. "The program was created in 1996 to raise awareness about New York," Tim Pezzolesi, manager of markets and promotions of the New York state Department of Agriculture & Markets, told The Produce News June 13.