The stars — and production — appear to be aligned, and to a person, California’s Coachella Valley produce community is expecting a strong season in 2011.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service is requesting comment on the creation of a voluntary National Leafy Green Marketing Agreement that would assist all segments of the leafy green industry in meeting commercial food quality and safety requirements.

To reflect the different climates, production practices and markets handling leafy green produce, USDA is proposing that there be eight regional zones represented on the board.

MONTREAL — European Flavors, a healthy-eating initiative inspired by the Mediterranean diet and currently active in the United States, Russia and Japan, has expanded into Canada.

SILVER SPRING, MD — The U.S. Food & Drug Administration should not mandate finished-product testing when it writes new preventive control rules under the federal food safety law, according to Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association, based in Washington.

MONTREAL — If the Avocado Producers & Exporting Packers Association of Michoacan [Mexico] has its way, Cinco de Mayo will become as big an event in Canada as it has become in the United States — complete with a major spike in avocado consumption.