A fierce outbreak of a rare strain of E. coli that has killed at least 22 people and left more than 600 people in intensive care is confounding investigators, who turned their focus to sprouts over the weekend but failed to confirm that as the source of the outbreak.

By most accounts, it has been a very good Mexican mango season, and that should continue as this season moves forward. Harvesting of the crop has moved from the most southern Mexican states into Nayarit and Sinaloa, with volume expected to pick up in June and July. Even northern Sinaloa, which is the last area to produce, is expected to weather its early cold temperature problems and produce a near-normal crop.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. produce industry is hoping that European authorities can quickly identify the source of a massive outbreak tied to virulent form of E. coli, which is becoming the most deadly outbreak on record.

The European outbreak has now become the focus of U.S. national news stories during the 24-hour news cycle, just weeks after Germany began reporting people infected with the virulent, drug-resistant form of E. coli not seen in U.S. foods.

The Mexican pineapple industry recently concluded its best exporting season to the United States in recent memory, but it is already gearing up for an even a better year in 2012.

An informal survey of mango importers showed support for the assessment increase for the National Mango Board.

While none of the half-dozen people interviewed expressed strong reservations about the assessment increase, a couple of importers said that the rationale behind the increase needs to be explained a bit better to the grower community.

WASHINGTON -- First lady Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin unveiled the new MyPlate icon and vowed to kick off the health message starting with a "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables" campaign.

Ms. Obama, speaking at the morning press conference June 2, said that the plate icon with different color-