A review article published Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirms that consuming organic foods reduces consumers' exposure to pesticide residues and to bacteria-resistant to antibiotics, but that the nutritional value between the two categories is not significant. The report spurred mainstream coverage in dozens of news venues that day.

In a press release issued the same day, the Organic Trade Association noted that pesticides are among the top reasons consumers cite for choosing to buy organic products.

RockTenn and DS Smith Plc announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance, executing a licensing agreement that gives RockTenn the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute proprietary corrugated packaging designs and to distribute innovative packaging equipment in the United States.

BELOIT, WI — At Blooming of Beloit, the slogan might be, “Nature goes commercial.” Shlomo Danieli, the owner and founder of this specialty cut-flower farm in Beloit, WI, spent three years testing 60 varieties of flowers and plants in 100- to 300-item plantings. He chose those that nature did best, and planted them on a large scale, and now has 60,000 trees and plants.

Sarah Frey-Talley, chief executive officer of Frey Farms LLC, headquartered in Keenes, IL, founded the company 20 years ago — when she was 16. Today it farms approximately 12,000 acres in numerous locations, in addition to sourcing from growing partners.

The leafy greens fields of California’s Salinas Valley were visited by government officials charged with oversight and implementation of new food-safety regulations and by two members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

On Aug. 25, at the invitation of California Congressman Sam Farr, Congressman Jack Kingston of Georgia made his first visit to the Salinas Valley and toured the "salad bowl of the world" for the first time. Rep. Kingston chairs the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee. Rep. Farr is the ranking member on the same committee.

Exports of onions from Peru continue to grow. According to the Society of External Commerce of Peru, export volume showed a 22 percent gain in the first quarter of 2012 when compared to the same window in 2011. The value of Peruvian onion exports for this period was $5.5 million. According to the website, www.agraria.pe, the value of fresh onion exports in 2011 for the same quarter was $4.4 million. Growth in 2012 was attributed to increased onion consumption in Colombia, the United States, Panama and the Netherlands.