WASHINGTON  The U.S. apple industry said that President Bush signed the landmark Central America Free Trade Agreement just in time to create a duty-free market for a bumper crop of fall-harvested apples.

The vote in the U.S. House of Representatives matched every prediction that it would be a close one, passing 217-215 in the early hours of July 28. The Senate passed it last month by a 54-45 margin.

Atkins Nutritionals Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in New York July 31 following one of the stronger  and longer  consumer-driven diet trends ever to surface in the United States.

In its filing, the company listed assets of $301 million and liabilities of $325 million. Atkins stated that it owes UBS Securities LLC and other lenders roughly $301 million under a 2003 loan.

MOSES LAKE, WA -- From the southeastern corner to the Skagit Valley, farmland planted in fresh-market and process potatoes has decreased by 5,000 acres, and most members of the Washington potato industry are looking at the coming season with renewed optimism.

In September, the New York Apple Association will roll out a consumer advertising and public relations campaign to promote the 2005 crop.

"We're going to have another busy fall promoting apples with advertising and public relations," said Jim Allen, president of the NYAA, who is coordinating the campaign.

An extensive advertising program will promote apples on television, radio and through high-end consumer magazines. Heavy advertising over the past two years has been credited with helping drive up consumer demand for apples and apple products.

Nuchief Sales Inc. in Wenatchee, WA, announced that it will handle marketing for Congdon Orchards Inc. in Yakima, WA, effective Aug. 1.

With the addition of Congdon, Nuchief will represent over 2.5 million cartons of apples, pears, cherries and asparagus. Currently, Nuchief markets for Washington firms Crane & Crane in Brewster, Smith & Nelson in Tonasket and Andrus & Roberts in Sunnyside. As part of the Congdon program, Nuchief will take on the sales for Lloyd Garretson Co., which Congdon has marketed the last three seasons.

For an avocado to meet the increasing demands of health conscious consumers, it's got to have less fat and fewer calories. Its got to be SlimCado, the naturally light alternative to the leading Californian variety.

The season is underway for this popular Florida avocado. Brooks Tropicals Inc. has just started picking SlimCados from its groves in south Florida, with shipments carrying through next February. Last season the industry total for all Florida avocados was over 1 million bushels, which was 40 percent higher than the 2003 season.