WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture released an overdue 2009 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary May 25, but not without an environmental group criticizing the produce industry for lobbying against the report.

Eighteen produce trade organizations wrote U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack April 27 to express concern that the yearly pesticide residue data on fruits and vegetables may be misused by activist groups and the media to discourage people from consuming produce.

WEATHER

Salinas, CA: There was a 30 percent chance of light rain May 25. Daytime highs will be in the mid- to low 60s through May 31 with overnight lows in the upper 40s. Partly to mostly sunny skies are expected May 26-31.

Bakersfield, CA: Daytime highs will remain unseasonably cool May 26-30 with daytime highs only in the mid- to upper 70s. Highs will break into the 80s beginning May 31. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid-50s.

Since the start of the new millennium, mushrooms have seen a surge in popularity in foodservice applications.

Shoppers are going to be heating up the grill, buttering the corn on the cob and whipping up their favorite summer coleslaw salads with Mann Packing's annual Summer Slaw Spectacular.

FirstFruits Marketing, based in Yakima, WA, was honored with the 2011 Association of Washington Businesses Award for Community Service in the area of education at the AWB spring meeting in Spokane, WA.

"We're blessed in Arkansas this year," Gary Margolis, owner and president of Gem Tomato & Vegetable Sales Inc., headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, told The Produce News May 24. "The storms and tornados have fallen to the north and to the south of Triple M Farms, our growing partners in Hamburg, Arkansas."