MONTE VISTA, CO — Potato growers in Colorado's San Luis Valley have cut back slightly in their planted acreage again this season, working to bring balance to the supply-and-demand and the production-returns equations.

According to Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, 55,800 acres of potatoes were planted for the 2010-11 shipping season. That compares to 2009’s 57,000 acres and to just under 72,000 acres as recently as 2002.

WASHINGTON — The timing could not be better for the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference. Congress will be making decisions on childhood nutrition and food safety bills when United Fresh holds its conference, here, Sept. 14-16.

Through this year, Chicago-based Strube Celery & Vegetable Co. has increased Hispanic produce sales.

Lisa Strube, the firm's director of finance and administration, told The Produce News Aug. 12 that her company had a slow start in boosting Hispanic produce sales in February 2010. In June, Strube Celery added a full-time, Spanish-speaking salesperson, Gustavo Rosales, who understands the Hispanic culture. This understanding, Ms. Strube said, is important for educating mainstream retail customers and for relating to Hispanic supermarket operators.

Wolcott, NY-based Fowler Farms, a grower-shipper of fresh apples, has appointed Mark Sharp as its new director of business development.

Mr. Sharp has brought to the company his 30 years of experience in both retail and foodservice including stints with Dole Fresh Fruit and ConAgra. He also previously has served on the Produce Marketing Association's foodservice advisory board.

Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. is supporting its sales program this fall with multiple promotions.

Beginning Oct. 10, shoppers will save 55 cents when they buy any two packages of Mann's core vegetable items such as "Broccoli Wokly," broccoli and cauliflower, or vegetable medley. Last year, the redemption rate for a similar promotional offer was more than 15 percent.

Kevin Moffitt, president and chief executive officer of the Pear Bureau Northwest in Milwaukie, OR, does not anticipate that rainy conditions in Oregon will create any undue delays in harvesting of the state's pear crop.

"The recent rain may cause some delay, maybe one day," he told The Produce News Aug. 31.