Those lucky enough to be attending the United Fresh 2012 in Dallas will have had ample opportunity to experience some world-class cuisine, starting with the opening reception April 30.

Kent Rathbun, executive chef and owner of five of Texas’s most popular restaurants, including Abacus in Dallas, is overseeing the menu and preparations for the expected approximately 800 people at “A Taste of Dallas Opening Party” at the Dallas Arboretum.

HERMOSILLO, SONORA -- About 13 percent more table grapes for export will be coming out of Sonora during 2012 than the year before, the growers´ association said.

Anthony Vineyards continues to see an increase in its organic grape offerings in both California’s Coachella Valley and in the acreage that the company represents in the San Joaquin Valley in the central part of the state.

California Vegetable Specialties in Rio Vista, CA, has successfully incorporated a vibrant social media outreach program into its current traditional marketing and public relations campaigns via its Discover Endive program.

WASHINGTON — By a 16-to-5 vote, the Senate Agriculture Committee on April 26 passed its version of the 2012 farm bill, which would pump more funding into specialty crop programs.

While it was good news to specialty crop producers, the food fight over equitable treatment of commodity crops means the future of the legislation is far from secured.

The bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, would eliminate subsidy payments, strengthen risk management tools for farmers and cut spending by nearly $24 billion.

Slow but seemingly steady improvements in the economy are starting to be felt among producers and shippers of specialty fruits and vegetables, and the warmer-than-usual winter and spring are an additional help at the foodservice level.