WASHINGTON -- Produce businesses across the country will benefit from new agricultural marketing grants doled out by Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner on July 14.

"These grants will be used to explore new and innovative approaches to marketing U.S. food and agricultural products, and to improve the efficiency and performance of our marketing system," said Mr. Conner.

WALLA WALLA, WA -- Let me dispel any myths right off the bat. This was not my first rodeo, although to a casual observer it might have appeared so.

In truth, I have been distance running for about 15 years, participating in two half-marathons and a few shorter events. But with all the desk and phone work time I put in (I'm begging for sympathy here), I haven't competed seriously since the turn of this decade.

It would take significantly more than the slight rain falling over the agriculture region north of Denver on July 8 to turn around effects of a lingering drought for area farmers, but growers and water conservancy district personnel still welcomed even the hint of moisture at the same time that other parts of the state were hit with flash flooding.

Homestead FL-based Brooks Tropicals Inc. has hired Zoltan Pinter as vice president of administration. Mr. Pinter will spearhead the continued expansion of the firm's Belizean papaya production, oversee the rollout of new information technology, and handle the company's legal matters and government relations.

Mr. Pinter's multiple skills were honed during a decade in the produce industry and his experience will be put to immediate use meeting the market's increased demand for Brooks' "Caribbean Red" and "Caribbean Sunrise" brand papayas, according to a company statement.

FRESNO, CA -- Representatives of the California Table Grape Commission, accompanied by a celebrity chef, will be going to New York City in August to meet with the staff of the Food Network, according to Jim Howard, communications director for the commission.

"We will talk to [the Food Network staff] about fresh California grapes," including their versatility, recipe ideas, the history of the industry, health benefits of grapes and "ways in which [the Food Network] can incorporate grapes in all of their programming," he said.

MONTEREY, CA -- A panel of industry leaders came together for the opening general session at the Produce Marketing Association's 2006 Foodservice Conference & Exposition to share insights into how to best corral the considerable opportunities that exist to increase the sale of fresh produce to foodservice.