Always up to something new and special, Baldor Specialty Foods, headquartered in the Bronx, NY, outdid itself Monday, April 22 by hosting a spectacular promotional and exhibition event, titled "Bite, an arousal of your taste buds" that unfolded as sort of a mini-convention.

WASHINGTON — The annual Dirty Dozen list released April 22 by an environmental group that ranks fresh produce by pesticide loads may not be getting traction this year because the government report upon which it is based makes clear fruits and vegetables are safe to eat, said Marilyn Dolan, executive director of Alliance for Food & Farming.

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC and its parent company Ahold USA, announced donations totaling $500,000 from the companies and their charitable foundation, Our Family Foundation, to The One Fund Boston (onefundboston.org). Formed by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, The One Fund Boston was created to aid victims of the tragic events that occurred during the Boston Marathon.

The Washington tree fruit industry is mourning the loss of 48-year-old Michael Monson, president of Monson Fruit Co. in Selah, WA. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mr. Monson was aboard a helicopter in a remote area of British Columbia on a company fishing trip when the helicopter suddenly crashed near Bute Inlet into the Homatico River. The accident occurred April 13 at around 4:30 p.m., shortly after take-off.

Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, anticipates a good asparagus season in 2013.

“We have the same acreage as last year,” Asparagus Procurement Manager James House told The Produce News. “We plan on having a little more volume this season compared to last year.”

The company packs asparagus at its facility in Pasco, WA. “We began harvesting April 2. We plan on harvesting until the beginning of June,” Mr. House stated.

Citing the inability to secure water in northern Colorado, grower-shipper Harry Strohauer of Strohauer Farms in LaSalle, CO, recently relocated a portion of his potato production to northeast New Mexico.

Mr. Strohauer, who grows conventional, organic and specialty potatoes and onions, told The Produce News that half his potato operation is in New Mexico this season. Conventional russets and Yukon Golds for the dry bulk/repacker market segment were planted in March, and Yukon harvest is expected to start in mid-July, with russets to follow.