Onion producers in New Mexico, some of whom sustained heavy losses during the 2011 production season, are anticipating a return to normalcy in 2012. "There was a hailstorm earlier this month that caused, as one shed estimated, 6 percent to 10 percent crop losses in at least one area where onions are grown," Katie Goetz, public information officer for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, said May 29. "Otherwise, the weather has been good for onions."

A bipartisan group of former cabinet secretaries released a comprehensive and actionable plan to improve America's physical and fiscal crises, driven by the alarming rates of obesity and chronic disease such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Organic grower Wholesum Family Farms hired produce industry professional Dennis Moleta as an account manager. Mr. Moleta, whose territory will cover the Eastern United States, will operate from Hampton, NJ. Mr. Moleta joins Wholesum Family Farms as it nears completion of a state-of-the-art glass greenhouse operation in Amado, AZ, that will dramatically increase the company's growing capacity and offer products grown in the United States.

BrightFarms Inc. and Cub Foods, a 69-store banner of supermarket industry leader Supervalu, are partnering to deliver year-round local produce to locations throughout the Twin Cities. The produce will be grown at the greenhouse BrightFarms is building in Saint Paul through its partnership with J&J Distributing.

CITRUSDAL, South Africa — The South African citrus deal will kick off with outstanding quality and an increase in volume over 2011 to meet rising demand, according to the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, based here, which exports all production to the United States.

Colorful Harvest, one of the fastest growing produce companies on the West Coast, is holding an online auction of a Musical Harvest strawberry guitar to benefit the Academy of Country Music's charity Lifting Lives. The custom-built guitar was signed by award-winning country artists at the recent ACM Awards show in Las Vegas, including Scotty McCreery (ACM 2012 new artist of the year), The Eli Young Band (ACM 2012 song of the year), Sarah Evans (2011 Country Music Association female vocalist of the year) and many others.