WASHINGTON -- The produce industry welcomed news that Mexico formally lifted tariffs that have amounted to more than $900 million of U.S. agricultural products since 2009, settling a costly dispute over a Mexican trucking pilot program.

Mexico, the third-largest trading partner for the United States, imposed the tariffs after years of squabbling over a provision in the North American Free Trade Agreement that allowed Mexican long-haul trucks to enter U.S. highways in 2000. Congress blocked funding for the program, which set off a political dispute between the two countries.

A large spring bloom and heavy summer rains should lead to a bigger Florida citrus crop this season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 12 at a breakfast at Ray-Bob Groves in Alturas, FL, hosted by Florida Citrus Mutual and attended by Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, state Sen. JD Alexander and state Rep. Denise Grimsley, along with about 70 growers, industry representatives and other elected officials.

WASHINGTON -- The produce industry learned that it will lose a key advocate on Capitol Hill next year with the Oct. 20 announcement that Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) is retiring at the end of 2012.

ATLANTA — Members of the garlic industry gathered Oct. 15 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, here, for a breakfast meeting sponsored by Christopher Ranch LLC before the opening of the Produce Marketing Association’s 2011 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exhibition show floor to discuss the state of the garlic industry and some of the mutual challenges those in the deal are facing. A common concern was labor.