CASTROVILLE, CA -- Decades and decades ago, when packing artichokes was the domain of local women from the Castroville area, Hugo Tottino, a partner in the California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corp., would start every day by going into the packing plant to personally greet each of his workers before heading into his office.

Figures tracked by the Mexican Mango Exporters Association and published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that Freska Produce International in Ventura, CA, is the largest importer of Mexican mangos in the United States. The April 15 report shows that Freska had brought in 1.5 million boxes of mangos, representing 50 percent of all crossings at Nogales, AZ, and 18 percent of all Mexican mangos coming into the United States since the season began.

WASHINGTON -- In a joint effort to help the fresh produce industry ensure the highest levels of food safety, the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, Produce Marketing Association, United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and Western Growers Association released a document called Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce & Leafy Greens Supply Chain.

Overall potato acreage in Kern County, CA, has dropped about 9 percent from the previous year -- from 8,727 acres planted in 2005 to 8,654 acres planted in 2006 -- according to published data from the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner's Office.

IRVINE, CA -- The California Avocado Commission unveiled an exciting new web-based consumer promotion, "Celebrate Cinco and Win." Designed to increase demand of fresh California avocados during the key Cinco de Mayo sales period, the innovative promotion is highlighted by a compelling Cinco de Mayo sweepstakes site showcased at the California Avocado Commission web site, avocado.org.

AgriCap Financial Corp. in Los Angeles was founded about six years ago by two finance veterans to provide financial services to agricultural enterprises -- a business sector that banks and other lending institutions often shy away from, according to Rick Jones, president of AgriCap.

"Many lenders consider agriculture too risky," he said. So why has AgriCap been successful in a field perceived as too risky by many competitors? "In a nutshell, we understand the industry well, so we are better at it," he said.