California pear growers are gearing up for production during 2009, and the California Pear Advisory Board has prepared estimates for 2009 California fresh pear production. The board, headquartered in Sacramento, CA, operates through grower assessment under the California Agricultural Marketing Act of 1937.

As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, Kurt Zuhlke & Assoc. Inc. is emphasizing its Keeping It Green program with customers. Kurt Zuhlke Jr., the company's president and chief executive officer, told The Produce News, "We have changed our philosophy about the materials we're purchasing [for packaging]."

Even as California growers continue to suffer from the effects of a third year of drought, the state of Idaho is experiencing the opposite problem: too much precipitation, and some of it in the form of balls of ice.

Severe thunderstorms in late June brought heavy rainfall and caused flash flooding in some areas. But for potato farmers in southeastern Idaho, the greater problem was hail that has damaged thousands of acres of crops.

How did fruits and vegetables get from the country farms across long distances to the big-city markets back in the early years and still maintain freshness? They probably arrived in a tired condition, especially during the summer.

The first refrigerated boxcars were used in 1851, but they were able to operate only during the cold winter months. Fresh meat was placed directly on ice, which darkened the product, altered the taste and ultimately proved to be impractical.

Broetje Orchards, headquartered in Prescott, WA, is working with commodity suppliers to create a new cooperative marketing organization. Business Manager Jim Hazen said that a board of directors is expected to be seated and an administrative office will be opened by Aug. 17, just in time for the 2009-10 apple season.

FRESNO, CA -- Thousands of farmers, farmworkers and ordinary Californians along with a number of politicians gathered at a rally in front of city hall here Wednesday, July 1, to protest not the actions of city officials (who were actually supportive of the rally) but of state and federal officials who have restricted water deliveries to farms in the San Joaquin Valley in favor of a small fish called the Delta Smelt.