GREEN BAY, WI -- As the new year begins, a healthy, flavorful vegetable is making a comeback to grocery store produce departments, and a new web site is providing meal planners with everything they need to know when adding spinach to the menu.

Oxnard, CA-based Mission Produce Inc. recently announced its entry into the fresh asparagus industry with its agreement to purchase the assets of Salinas, CA-based Lee Pacific LLC.

The purchase includes a California and Mexican program that will strengthen Mission's strategic relationship with a Peruvian company with which Mission works in avocados to enable a year-round fresh asparagus program, said Steve Barnard, president and chief executive officer of Mission Produce.

Dozens of new seedless grapes as well as fresh plums, apricots and peaches -- bred by California fruit researchers -- will soon be more readily available to growers and marketers throughout Europe.

In an effort to expand its new fruit variety development and licensing programs, Sun World International LLC has established Sun World Europe, according to Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas.

The office will be based in Cesena, Italy, within the important fruit-growing region of Emilia-Romagna.

SALINAS, CA -- Tanimura & Antle, based here, has unveiled upgraded food- safety measures for its growers to follow, which became effective Dec. 21.

These measures include increased minimum-distance requirements from potential risks, tightened standard operating procedures for crops near flood risks, managing use of certified compost, increased water quality testing and stricter pre-planting ranch assessments.

If truly there is such a thing as a win-win proposition, it might be the new environmentally friendly grocery bags being promoted by several companies including Earthwise Bag Co. Inc. in Commerce, CA.

A very strong and cold trough of low pressure will drop southward into California's Central Valley late this week and this coming weekend.

The citrus industry in the Central Valley is particularly concerned. Lows Thursday, Jan. 11, will remain close to 30 with clouds and rain and possibly snow showers. The cool and wet conditions will continue into Friday, Jan. 12, with highs in the mid-40s and lows in the mid- to upper 20s Friday night.