WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced recently plans to purchase up to 6 million pounds of dried fig pieces to be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. In fiscal year 2005, which ended Sept. 30, USDA purchased 5 million pounds of figs. USDA purchased nearly 4.9 million pounds of figs in FY04 and 3.7 million pounds of figs in FY03. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products each year for distribution by USDA's Food & Nutrition Service for the national school lunch program, the school breakfast

MAITLAND, FL -- Thanks to the efforts of Florida's congressional delegation, the state's agricultural producers will receive at least $200 million to assist in post-hurricane cleanup and conservation efforts, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson announced at the end of December. Money to fund the disaster relief package will generally come from Section 32 dollars. USDA's Section 32 program earmarks a portion of customs receipts to aid the farm sector. "We are grateful to Senators [Mel] Martinez and [Bill] Nelson and Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart, Adam Putnam, Mark Foley and others

The Produce News has moved to a new office in Oradell, NJ, just a short distance from our previous office. The new address is 800 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 100, Oradell, NJ 07649. Our new telephone number is 201-986-7990, and our new fax number is 201-986-7996. All of our e-mail addresses remain the same, including the general editorial address: newsdesk@theproducenews.com.

CHESHIRE, CT -- The Private Label Manufacturers Association capped a year of unprecedented acclaim for store brands by honoring some of the country's better private-label programs and products at its annual trade show held in Chicago this past November. Bozzuto's Inc. was accorded the industry's highest honor as one of the winners of PLMA's 2005 Salute to Excellence awards. The awards were presented Nov. 14, celebrating the achievements of retailers and wholesalers who are finding ways to turn up the volume on store-brand growth and success by raising consumers' expectations and setting new

Justin Robinson, who is featured in the California Giant advertising and marketing campaign for 2006, has won the Cyclocross National Championship held earlier this month in snowy New England. Far from the California sunshine, Mr. Robinson was able to overcome the freezing elements and bring home the championship for the second year in a row for California Giant Berry Farms. The company said that it is extremely proud of the team at this most recent event with three of the members standing on the podium wearing the Cal Giant colors. California Giant has been supporting cycling for over five

SALINAS, CA -- Fresh produce industry leaders representing all the major trade associations congregated here Dec. 13 for a forum on assuring a safe supply of lettuce for consumers as well as retail and foodservice buyers with an eye toward eliminating any incidence of foodborne illness associated with California lettuce. The forum was prompted by a November letter addressed to "California firms that grow, pack, process or ship fresh and fresh-cut lettuce" and written by Dr. Robert Brackett, director of the Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition for the Food & Drug Administration. In the