The New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, has launched a new variety guide and merchandising display that makes it easy for retailers to promote the excellent eating qualities of "Apple Country" apples.

"These are the most beautiful p-o-s materials we've ever created," Jim Allen, president of the association, said in a press release. "We're already getting hundreds of requests from retailers to put these up in their produce aisles."

Agricultural officials have detected a Mexican fruit fly infestation, a threat to the fresh produce industry, in Escondido in northern San Diego County.

The California Department of Food & Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have expanded insect trapping in the area to detect any additional flies. A quarantine will be imposed to prevent the spread of the infestation once the boundaries of the infested area have been determined.

Salinas, CA-based Church Bros. LLC and True Leaf Farms -- Church's processing arm -- continue to roll out products in the "Disney Garden" line, which presents a variety of commodity vegetables and value-added items designed to reach younger consumers.

The "Disney Garden" line features Disney characters. But as sales manager-partner Steve Church and Ernst van Eeghen, director of product development and marketing for Church Bros./True Leaf Farms pointed out, the line involves much more than simply using Disney's name and characters.

In February 2007, with the objective "to get people talking" about the connection between fresh fruit and glowing, good health, Selah, WA-based Rainier Fruit Co. Marketing Director Suzanne Wolter challenged a development team and creative consultant David Barbrack of New Path Marketing Inc. to "try something outside our comfort zone" in a trade advertising campaign.

The result was the ad series launched during PMA Fresh Summit in October, and the response has been "mixed," according to Ms. Wolter.

And that is a good thing, she added.

WASHINGTON -- Mandated food-security rules, food recalls and new import- certification requirements for "high-risk foods" are some of the policy changes the Bush administration will recommend in the coming months.

Top administration officials delivered the Import Working Group report to President Bush with 50 recommendations to change policies in the wake of several recalls of contaminated imported toys and foods. Some changes may be sent to Congress as early as February in the government's next spending plan.

Twenty-one-year-old Pat Brownfield has a lot to keep him grounded -- figuratively and literally.

Two months ago, he became part of the family team at Sweet Clover Produce in Walla Walla, WA. Along with his father, Bill, and his mother, Jan, Mr. Brownfield is helping the company get quality onions into the pipeline. That's the figurative part.