Greenhouse-grown organic tomatoes are next in The Oppenheimer Group's ever-expanding line of products available in completely home compostable packaging.

"Tomatoes are among the most popular organic items in the produce section," James Milne, executive director of the Vancouver, BC-based marketer's greenhouse category, said in a statement. "Now discerning consumers can purchase richly flavored organic tomatoes in convenient packs and place all of the packaging into their home compost knowing it will be ready to make a healthy contribution to the garden in 90 days."

Alphonso mangos, a highlight of India's horticulture industry, may soon find an entry into the United States thanks to the efforts initiated by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board.

The way for the entry of Indian mangos into the United States could be cleared in a couple of months, as a committee of U.S. scientists is expected to visit India to conduct the final rounds of tests on the fruit, according to a statement issued by Michael Owen, the U.S. consul general in India.

In an effort to curb the gunnysacking of tomatoes, the California Department of Food & Agriculture has issued new standards requiring each container of fresh-market tomatoes to include a grower name and lot number. In addition, stricter packing standards have been issued regarding the appearance of the tomato in a carton or box.

Goodness Greeness, a Chicago-based distributor of organic produce, recently established the area's first all-organic foodservice division. Items currently include a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables, and organic and grass-fed dairy.

In the past, the company's produce had been available to restaurants through brokers. This new division is dedicated solely to the direct sales, service and distribution of organic produce to the foodservice industry.

Los Angeles-based Giumarra Cos. and New Zealand-based Luv'ya Apple Co. have combined efforts to focus on a flavor-based apple program.

"Eve is a delicious improvement versus standard Braeburn and even the other high-color Braeburn strains," Tom Richardson, manager of Giumarra's Wenatchee division, said in a statement. "It has that tangy Braeburn flavor, but being sweeter, it is more suitable to the North American taste preference."

For years, the California Tomato Commission and others have urged retailers, foodservice operators and end users to refrain from cooling tomatoes. "Don't Refrigerate Tomatoes," screamed the refrigerator magnet that the commission distributed.

While that advice has not been abandoned, the new Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain specifically draws attention to temperature control as an area of concern.