WASHINGTON -- The Salmonella outbreak associated with fresh tomatoes is likely to cost the food industry more than the 2006 spinach recall, but this time the Food & Drug Administration is working with the produce industry to lessen the financial blow while it untangles the paperwork that will ultimately point to the source of the more 160 illnesses.

A massive hailstorm that swept across New York state Tuesday, June 18, may have reduced the state's apple crop by as much as 60 percent.

"The storm tore across western New York," Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, told The Produce News the day after the storm. "It moved from east of Buffalo -- across the main fruit belt area -- and hit south of Syracuse and the Hudson Valley. It was like the storm had radar for apples."

NEWARK, DE -- Produce Marketing Association and Western Growers Association will co-host a free webinar for industry to learn about and provide feedback on the associations' new draft best management practices for complying with federal produce country-of-origin labeling.

The complimentary webinar, which will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, is designed to prepare industry members for Sept. 30, 2008, when mandatory federal country-of-origin labeling goes into effect.

Alejandra Pineda, a 22-year-old senior at Michigan State University, began her internship with Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, FL, in early May. She is now working in the procurement department.

"My introduction to Gary James, COO of Southern Specialties, was during the PMA Fresh Summit in Houston, Texas, in 2007," said Ms. Pineda. "The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways scholarship program brings agriculture and food marketing students and faculty from select colleges and universities to the event, and I was fortunate to be one of the chosen students."

Brett Burdsal, who was recently hired as a marketing manager for Wenatchee, WA-based Columbia Marketing International, has hit the ground running with his new responsibilities.

"We're very happy to have Brett on board," Vice President of Marketing Bob Mast told The Produce News.

SALINAS, CA -- Health officials and the fresh produce industry are awaiting further word about the cause of an episode in Washington state where 10 people were sickened by an E. coli O157:H7 infection between mid-May and May 29.

Though inconclusive, Washington state health officials have pointed to Romaine lettuce as a possible source of the E. coli.