CHEP, a leader in pallet and container pooling, released a study April 1 that it says validates the company's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and confirms the sustainability credentials of its equipment pooling solution.

In coordination with the release of the report, CHEP launched a new web site -- www.chep.com/knowthefacts.com -- to help companies better understand how the use of CHEP pallets reduces their carbon footprint.

CARPINTERIA, CA -- Founders Art and Magda Overgaag have kept a family tradition of greenhouse growing alive and prospering for 40 years with innovation, adaptability and a commitment to quality.

In late February, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that because of above-normal precipitation year-to-date, the Central Valley Project, which provides water to farmers served by the Westlands Water District on the once-bountiful West Side of California's San Joaquin Valley, would get a 5 percent water allocation for 2010 and that if the rainfall continued, the allocation might be increased to 30-40 percent.

Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms is collaborating with the California Milk Board on a cross promotion in April.

The offer entails an instant-redeemable coupon for 55-cents off any purchase of California butter with the purchase of an Ocean Mist Farm artichoke.

More than 500,000 coupons will be affixed to artichokes sold in western California retail stores during April.

Six individuals representing a cross section of the potato industry in the western United States were elected to serve with the U.S. Potato Board and were named to positions of leadership last month during its 38th annual meeting in Denver.

In its first year of marketing to India, New York apple growers are expecting to ship 50,000 cartons of apples to that nation this year. And more markets are expected to open to Empire State growers, providing opportunities for future growth.

Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, told The Produce News, "We have also opened export programs to Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Thailand and Hong Kong this year. Movement into some of these countries is minimal, but it has opened doors and given us opportunities for future growth."