WASHINGTON — The yearly release of pesticide residue data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture should be framed in a way not to discourage people from consuming fresh produce, 18 produce trade groups wrote Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in an April 27 letter.

Peppadew, the name given to a variety of sweet piquante pepper marketed by Peppadew International, based in South Africa, is enjoying a surge in popularity, and its North American sales agent is promoting it at produce trade shows and looking to claim some shelf space in supermarket produce departments for the jarred product.

BOSTON — The New England Produce Council drew a large crowd of exhibitors, retailers and produce industry members to its baseball-themed 11th annual Produce & Floral Expo, here, complete with a former Major League Baseball star and a well-trafficked exhibit floor.

Erratic and unusual weather patterns delayed the start of the 2010 watermelon season; there will be no such repeat in 2011. Growing conditions throughout the United States have been perfect, the season’s first domestic melons were cut ahead of schedule in Florida during the first week of April, and the market is reasonably solid.

(UPDATED) The U.S. Department of Agriculture formally recommended a proposal Tuesday, April 26, for the establishment of a National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, with the expectation that the voluntary marketing agreement will be in place by the end of the year.

The stars — and production — appear to be aligned, and to a person, California’s Coachella Valley produce community is expecting a strong season in 2011.