The United Fresh Produce Association will honor the winners of its 2007 Retail Produce Manager Award at the upcoming United Fresh Marketplace show at FMI, to be held May 5-8 in Chicago.

Alan Schreiber, executive director of the Washington Asparagus Commission in Eltopia, WA, expects supplies of fresh asparagus will be tight in 2007.

"Supplies will be tighter than last year," Dr. Schreiber told The Produce News. "There are a number of handlers who won't have the product they want. Prices, however, are going to be relatively good."

After nearly six years of hard work, the Canadian produce industry has finally begun implementing changes to its Destination Inspection Service.

The Maine Potato Board, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the Bushwick Commission have embarked on a campaign to bring the freshest tablestock potatoes to Maine consumers.

Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Seth Bradstreet III was on hand March 15 to kick off the campaign at the Waterville Wal-Mart Supercenter. Wal-Mart Supercenters across Maine featured 10-pound bags with the "Get Real Get Maine!" logo.

If there is such a thing as normal any more in the California stone fruit industry, this may be the year the industry sees it, according to Gary Van Sickle, research director for the California Tree Fruit Agreement in Reedley, CA.

Last year was marked by weather extremes, ranging from unseasonably warm winter weather to prolonged wet, cool spring weather, followed by extreme heat from mid to late summer. The effect was a delay in the timing of the crops and a reduction in volume, particularly in later varieties.

United Potato Growers of Idaho, a grower-owned cooperative formed in 2005 with a goal of bringing about a balance between supply and demand in the tomato market, has announced the formation of a joint venture with Idaho Fresh-Pak Corp. and the R.D. Offutt Co. that will create the nation's second-largest dehydrator.

Lewisville, ID-based Idaho Fresh-Pak, also known as Idahoan Foods, produces dehydrated and frozen potato products for retail and foodservice.