SUN VALLEY, ID  When the Idaho potato market finally recovers, the industry will be poised to move a high volume of product thanks to the marketing plans put in place by the Idaho Potato Commission. But until then, it will be a waiting game as a combination of overproduction and a down economy is hampering the market for Idaho potatoes.

Countries with a growing middle class give producers of Washington apples increased opportunities to market product abroad. Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, provided The Produce News with the following observation. "As economies improve and the middle class grows, [apple] size and pricing improves to be similar to the United States." Historically, foreign markets have favored smaller-sized apples, Mr. Fryhover said. But he sees potential for the dynamic to change in the coming years.

WASHINGTON -- After a 25-minute interview, when then President-elect Barack Obama decided that Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack was his top choice as secretary of agriculture, the newly elected president made it clear that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be expanding its mission to promote fruits and vegetables.

WASHINGTON -- After a 25-minute interview, when then President-elect Barack Obama decided that Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack was his top choice as secretary of agriculture, the newly elected president made it clear that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be expanding its mission to promote fruits and vegetables.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), a longtime champion of the school snack program, is stepping down as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee to lead a Senate health committee that is expected to take up food-safety legislation this fall.

NAPLES, FL -- Despite the lack of a single tomato-related food-safety incident in the past year, that topic was at the forefront during the first two days of meetings at the 34th annual Florida Joint Tomato Conference held Sept. 8-14 at the Ritz-Carlton, here. The conference was hosted by the Florida Tomato Committee and the Florida Tomato Exchange.