ATLANTA -- Sal Vacca of A.J. Trucco seemed to speak for everyone assembled at the garlic industry's Nov. 6 breakfast at the PMA Fresh Summit when he referred to Chinese garlic as "a thorn in our heart."

Others in attendance at the breakfast echoed Mr. Vacca's lament, and few expressed hope of stemming the tide of Chinese garlic imports that continue to plague U.S. grower- shippers as well as those in Mexico.

As Pink Lady America continues to build on its success as the only apple variety approved by the American Heart Association Food Certification Program, Pink Lady Marketing Director Alan Taylor said, "We're very much interested in branding this product."

The unique characteristics of the apple include a striking pink skin, complex tart-sweet flavor and the ability to maintain a white flesh longer when cut, Mr. Taylor noted, and those attributes make branding a logical move.

"Never in the history of the [California citrus] industry have we been so united," said Philip LoBue, president of LoBue Bros. Inc., a citrus packinghouse in Lindsay, CA, who was elected chairman of the board of directors of California Citrus Mutual at the organization's recent annual meeting.

Stan Pohmer, founder and chief executive officer of Pohmer Consulting Group, received the 2005 Floral Marketer of the Year Award during the Nov. 6 breakfast general session at the Produce Marketing Association's 2005 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta.

This marks the 25th annual presentation of the award recognizing an outstanding individual who has served the mass-market floral industry with dedication and distinction.

ATLANTA -- With President Bush's signature, which is expected shortly, the start date of mandatory country-of- origin labeling for produce will be officially extended to Sept. 30, 2008.

On Oct. 31, ASOEX, Asociacion de Exportadores de Chile (also known as the Chilean Exporters Association), asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the comment period for an effort by the Coachella growers, known as the Desert Grape League, to change the regulatory periods for grapes that they grow and also for table grapes supplied from Chile and Mexico. This is USDA's Marketing Order 925 and Import Regulation 4.