The AccuWeather forecast for Fresno, CA, on Aug. 29, called for high temperatures of 106-108 degrees every day through Sept. 2, cooling to 104 on Sept. 3 before dropping back into double-digit readings beginning Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day.

If the 108-degree high forecasted for Friday, Aug. 31, proves accurate, it will break the record for the date of 107 degrees, set in 1888, according to AccuWeather.

Pomegranates are in a very enviable position. Volume continues to rise as plantings over the past decade mature, and demand is rising right along with it.

On Aug. 29, King City, CA-based Metz Fresh LLC voluntarily recalled spinach sold to retail and foodservice due to a positive find for salmonella during a routine, third-party test, although no resulting illnesses had been reported.

Labeled under the "Metz Fresh" brand, the 10- and 16-ounce bags and 2.5- and four-pound cartons of the product in question were distributed in Canada and the United States.

The packages bear tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314, and Metz Fresh has set up a hotline, 831/386-1018, to address concerns.

Among all the competition, Mastronardi Produce Ltd. won the Best Hothouse Specialty Tomato in the Tomato Capital of Canada Award for its Sunset Splendido grape tomato in Leamington, ON, at this year's Leamington Tomato Festival.

Interfresh Inc., a national supplier of fruits and vegetables, has introduced a newly branded line of tomatoes. Packed in the "Interfresh" label, this expansion of its product portfolio launched in early July and has seen tremendous success, according to the company.

KING CITY, CA -- Elephant Garlic Kings began shipping certified-organic elephant garlic the week of Aug. 20.

The company, based here, received its organic certification May 1 by Agricultural Services Certified Organic. According to Elephant Garlic Kings partners Chris Pope and Pier Azcona, the company is the first to grow organic elephant garlic in any real volume. Mr. Pope anticipates that the company will have 50,000 pounds for sale this first year, mostly to existing customers.