WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration says it is safe to irradiate spinach and fresh Iceberg lettuce, but that is just one hurdle the produce industry will need to overcome before consumers will buy these products.

The groundbreaking for the new Philadelphia produce market was postponed to Sept. 3 from Aug. 27.

Sonny DiCrecchio, general manager of the Philadelphia Regional Wholesale Produce Market, informed The Produce News Aug. 26 that Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell was involved in the Democratic National Convention in Denver the last week of August and was unable to return to Philadelphia in time to attend the groundbreaking.

So, it was rescheduled to the next Wednesday, to involve Gov. Rendell, who was actively involved in bringing the new market project to fruition.

The eagerly awaited start of the 2008 Idaho potato harvest has finally arrived, according to Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission.

The eagerness is due to two factors. First, shippers went through the 2007 crop faster than anticipated, so there is not much product in the marketplace. Added to that is the fact that the crop, delayed by cool, wet weather in the early spring, is running a little later than normal.

Some growers began harvesting early Norkotahs for the fresh market the week of Aug. 18.

CULVER CITY, CA -- Australian citrus growers toured 50 major supermarkets in California as part of the annual promotions of the only Australian citrus program in the United States, run for the past 16 years by DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL.

WASHINGTON -- By later this fall, 1 million kids will be eating fresh fruits and vegetables in schools as a popular snack program is expanded nationwide.

"If you're a wholesaler, you should know about this program," said Lorelei DiSogra, vice president of nutrition and health for the United Fresh Produce Association, here. "This is a huge business opportunity for wholesalers and even retailers."

The Idaho Grower Shipper Association, headquartered in Idaho Falls, ID, is a voluntary trade association that has been representing the fresh potato shippers and grower-shippers of Idaho for 80 years. For the last 28 of those years, Dave Smith has been at the helm of the organization, but he is retiring Aug. 29, and Travis Blacker, formerly with Dickinison Frozen Foods, has been hired to be the new president of IGSA.