Official estimates for the 2010 spring grape crop from the state of Sonora, Mexico, were not due to be released until April 16, but as of late March there was general agreement among most importers of Mexican grapes with whom The Produce News talked that the crop would be neither exceptionally small nor exceptionally large.

WALLA WALLA, WA -- For the second consecutive year, artist Diana Schmidt has taken the top award for her Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival poster designs at the Washington Festivals & Events Association conference.

The conference, held March 7-9 at Seaside, OR, saw Ms. Schmidt win for the 2009 poster heralding the 25th annual festival.

The colorful poster, depicting a vintage pickup loaded with enormous Walla Walla Sweets, was the second in what Kathy Fry, director of marketing for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, referred to as the "truck series."

Alan Schreiber, administrator of the Washington Asparagus Commission, is projecting increased asparagus tonnage for the 2010 season. "We are cautiously optimistic," he told The Produce News March 31. "We will have an early season."

The 2009 production season was marked by prolonged periods of cold, resulting in a shortened season.

A creative pear and scallop appetizer took top prize March 31 at the second annual USA Pears Culinary Student Recipe competition, which is open to U.S. culinary students nationwide.

John Hickey, a senior buyer at John Vena Inc. located on the Philadelphia Regional Produce Terminal, resigned from the company, according to John Vena, president of the company.

"Effective immediately, Mr. Hickey is no longer connected to the firm," a March 26 press release announced.

"John Hickey was instrumental in creating new product lines and further developing some existing products, Mr. Vena told The Produce News April 5. "John has an intuitive feel for produce and is highly focused on his customer's best interests. I wish him all the best in the future."

With March bringing record rainfall to many parts of the Garden State followed by unseasonably warm temperatures in early April, growers are keeping one eye on their fields and the other on the weather forecast as they hope for a reprieve from the extremes and a return to a normal production schedule.