The U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its estimate of the 2012-13 Florida orange crop by 1 million boxes to 138 million boxes.

The Valencia variety accounted for the decline going from 72 million boxes in March to 71 million this month. Early-mid varieties remained at 67 million boxes.

More than 30 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations are up for United Fresh Produce Association’s 2013 New Product Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of best new products at United Fresh 2013, May 14-16 in San Diego.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council, which pioneered the concept of regional trade shows more than 25 years ago, held its Northern California Expo April 10 at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA.

WASHINGTON — The May 16 deadline set by the Food & Drug Administration to comment on sweeping food-safety changes to farms and processing facilities is impossible to meet, the United Fresh Produce Association and more than 80 other groups told FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg in an April 11 letter asking for a deadline extension.

One sign of springtime in the Pacific Northwest is a cherry orchard in full bloom, and Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, reported such an event is now taking place.

Oneonta Marketing Director Scott Marboe said April 10 that this year’s Northwest bloom portends good things to come.

Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee based in Monte Vista, CO, said in early April that that low market prices and water restrictions will result in fewer potato acres in the San Luis Valley this year.