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2010 Dietary Guidelines to be released Jan. 31

WASHINGTON -- The produce industry will be closely watching Jan. 31 when the Obama administration releases the long-awaited 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The Dietary Guidelines, which are published jointly every five years by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are the basis of federal food and nutrition policy and nutrition assistance programs. The document represents the latest, science-based nutritional and dietary advice for consumers.

15th Agritrade show slated for March 17-18 in Guatemala

The 15th edition of the Agritrade export show will be presented by Agexport, the Guatemalan Exporters´Association, this March 17-18. Agexport represents, promotes and develops non-traditional exports of Guatemalan companies. The event was first held in Guatemala in 1987. It has grown to be a trade show for Central America's food exports.

The 2011 meeting will be held again in the historic five-star Hotel Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, Guatemala.

Rain fails to dampen 2011 California asparagus crop

STOCKTON, CA -- Despite unseasonably wet and cool weather, California asparagus growers are gearing up for on-time production, which will begin in earnest in March.

All asparagus growing regions in California are seeing normal harvest timing and volume prospects, with industry experts saying that the rain simply made up for exceptionally dry weather in November and December. Growers expect steady demand for the crop, which is expected to be slightly over 40 million pounds -- similar to the 2010 harvest.

Offshore produce industry standing the test of time

The U.S. government formally launched the unilateral Caribbean Basin Initiative in 1984. President Ronald Reagan's goal was to counter the appeal of communism in Central America and the Caribbean islands by bolstering the economies of the countries in those regions.

The theory was that if people were profitably employed they would be disinterested in taking up arms to effect a change of government. Given the region’s climate and geographic resources, agricultural development was a natural focus.

Harvest New England conference and trade show set for early March

Agricultural producers from across the Northeast will convene March 1-3 in scenic Sturbridge, MA, for Harvest New England Association's third biannual marketing conference and trade show. The theme of the 2011 event is "The Expanding New England Farm Enterprise: Reaping More from What We Sow."

Santa Cruz Berry Farming Co. ready for inaugural strawberry season

WATSONVILLE, CA -- For the last 16 years, Fritz Koontz has been a partner in Beach Street Farms LLC, a grower-shipper of strawberries based here. He recently decided it was time to branch out on his own and will open the doors on a new strawberry growing and shipping company.

Santa Cruz Berry Farming Company will be based here and will specialize in organic but will also grow conventional strawberries utilizing both university and proprietary varieties.

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