WASHINGTON -- With the investigation narrowed to one fresh spinach processor, the Food & Drug Administration announced Sept. 29 that it cleared spinach for sale with the exception of bags that were part of several recalls.

Black River Produce in North Springfield, VT, has joined Nashville-based Produce Alliance, a leading produce management group dedicated to marketing high-quality goods and services in the produce sector.

In a press release, Steve Birge, co-founder of Black River Produce, said, "We partnered with Produce Alliance because of its purchasing power. With close to $1 billion in sales revenue, we have the strength in numbers to supply our customers with the highest-quality product available at competitive prices."

In a program quite similar to last year, the 2006 National Apple Month retail display contest got underway Sept. 1 and will run through the end of November. The contest is open to all retailers in the United States as well as to all military commissaries in this country and abroad, according to NAM Director Kay Rentzel.

Daniel Peyton McClure, president and chief operating officer of West Coast Tomato Inc. and McClure Farms in Palmetto, FL, died Sept. 23 at his home in Bradenton, FL, after a battle with liver cancer. He was 80 years old.

A lifetime resident of Manatee County, he was born Feb. 8, 1926 in Palmetto to Versenoia Thomas McClure and John Niel McClure Sr.

He graduated from Palmetto High School and the University of Florida, where he received a degree in finance and economics. He served in the U.S. Navy.

FRESNO, CA -- As reported last week in The Produce News, at its board of directors meetings and executive sessions held Sept. 19 in Sacramento, the California Tomato Commission, here, decided to downsize the state commodity commission effective immediately, a cutback which will eliminate the marketing and government affairs program and retain only the research program, which focuses on seed varieties and pest management.

WASHINGTON -- Spinach growers are watching time run out as speculation continues on the cause of the spinach outbreak and what should be done to fix it.