In South Korea, thousands of people sat down to a breakfast of Florida pink grapefruit this morning. Earlier this year, thousands more in Ireland got a taste of sunshine in the form of Florida strawberries. In fact, due in large part to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' decade-old Fresh from Florida marketing campaign, millions of consumers regularly enjoy Florida produce in 15 countries around the world all year.

"Vidalia O' on the Go" is a national summer travel contest planned by marketing students at Vidalia Comprehensive High School in conjunction with the Vidalia Onion Committee. The contest gives contestants who purchase a vehicle tag the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes.

Ryan Flowers, marketing instructor at VCHS, approached Wendy Brannen about potential projects for his students. Ms. Brannen is executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee and serves on the VCHS Marketing Advisory Committee.

The 10th anniversary show of the New England Produce Council will carry the patriotic theme of Stars & Stripes, according to Laura Sullivan, executive director of the council, which is based in Burlington, MA.

The 2010 NEPC Produce & Floral Expo will be held April 14 in Boston's Hynes Convention Center. Set-up for show exhibitors will be April 13, and there is a pre-event cocktail party for exhibitors and invited guests on the evening of April 13.

CLAYTON, NJ -- Washington, DC, has its cherry blossoms, and Gloucester County in New Jersey has its peach blossoms. As temperatures rise, pretty pink and light red pink blossoms are opening in all their splendor.

Gloucester County is the number one peach-producing county in New Jersey and one of the major ones in the United States. Approximately 4,600 acres of peach trees come alive each April with a variety of small to large showy and non-showy pink blossoms.

WILMINGTON, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association has announced that it is increasing its contribution commitment the to Produce for Better Health Foundation with a $250,000 pledge, paid over the next five years.

"PBH does what no one else is doing on behalf of the entire produce category: they understand and talk to consumers about fruits and vegetables," Bryan Silbermann, PMA's president and chief executive officer, said in an April 7 press release. "We have been long-time supporters of PBH and are proud to increase our support to this $50,000 level."

The powerful Easter Sunday earthquake that rattled homes and buildings in both Mexico and California did do some structural damage -- mostly in Mexicali, Mexico -- but apparently had very limited impact on the fresh produce industry.

The 7.2-magnitude quake was centered about 30 miles south of the border in the Mexicali Valley of Baja California.