FRESNO, CA -- Harvesting of citrus in California's San Joaquin Valley and of strawberries and vegetables in the coastal areas of Southern California began returning to normal the week of Jan. 3, after being disrupted by unusually heavy rainfall during much of December.

LoBue Citrus announced that Heritage Reserve Navel oranges will begin shipping Jan. 17.

Heritage Reserve Navels are grown within a unique sub-section of California's Central Valley citrus-growing region. The orchards were first planted between 1898 and 1960 to the original Washington-variety rootstock, and have never been replanted.

FirstFruits Marketing announced Jan. 4 that Opal apples, a unique variety that made its U.S. debut last year, will be available from January through May, or while supplies last.

The Opal variety has a bright, yellow color with hints of orange but is most recognized for its distinctively crunchy texture and sweet flavor. Additional attributes include medium-round shape and stem-end russetting.

Matt Harris, director of trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, said that the state's potato producers will likely see increased export opportunities in 2011.

"The Canadian crop in British Columbia had significant problems because of weather," he told The Produce News Jan. 3. Additionally, failure of the potato crop in Russia has other European producers moving to fill the gap.

With little fanfare, President Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Jan 4 after returning from his holiday break in Hawaii.

"The Food Safety Modernization Act is the most significant food safety law of the last 100 years," Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said during a Jan. 3 press call.

Vowing to make sure agriculture maintains its place as one of Florida's driving economic engines, former U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam was sworn in Jan. 4 as the 11th commissioner of the state’s Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in ceremonies at the capitol in Tallahassee.

Commissioner Putnam took the oath of office along with other victors from November’s elections, a landslide for Florida Republicans. Also sworn in were Gov. Rick Scott, Lieutenant Gov. Jennifer Carroll, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.