A grassroots measure begun three years ago as a junior high civics class project has been endorsed by both houses of the Washington state Legislature and only awaited the signature of Gov. Christine Gregoire to make it official as of April 6. The Walla Walla sweet onion will be, barring an unexpected veto by Gov. Gregoire, the Washington state vegetable. Legislation passed the state House on Feb. 13 and the Senate on April 5. According to Kathy Fry, director of marketing for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, the designation is appropriate. Ms. Fry explained that the history of

Novazone, a leading provider of clean technology solutions for food and water including advanced ozone-based applications, has launched PurFresh, a solution for reducing decay, controlling over-ripening and enhancing food safety for fresh produce during transit. PurFresh uses ambient oxygen and converts it to ozone, a natural form of electrified oxygen. Ozone is delivered continually by Novazone's PurFresh product into shipping containers, trucks and trains, and its concentrations are carefully maintained. When properly controlled, ozone is extremely effective in killing microorganisms like

VALENCIA, SPAIN -- The fresh fruits and vegetables produced in the province of Valencia were presented to the world by the Instituto Valenciano de la Exportaci?n in a produce and food fair held here April 18-21. IVEX is a society created by the Conselleria of Company, University & Science and the chambers of commerce of Valencian industry to develop the region's exports. The organization has four trade offices in the United States plus offices in Bogota, Colombia; Havana, Cuba; as well as throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia. A fruit fair, EuroAgro, was also part of this Valencian food

With a plethora of packaging options and distributors in the produce industry, Sev-Rend Corp., a St. Louis-based manufacturer of tags, labels and flexible packaging applications, is counting on its reputation for providing quality, high-performance products to help it stand out in the crowd. Rob Williams, president of Sev-Rend, said that "high-performance packaging" has become something of a motto for his company, and it is to the benefit of his customers. "We use higher-gauge materials that perform better [than cheaper alternatives], and it really helps with production because of the

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- With the Food & Drug Administration just beginning to consider a more stringent federal produce safety program, a new group of state food officials is drafting a model regulation that could be adopted by all 50 states. Retailers, restaurants and produce industry groups have been drafting food- safety protocols in response to recent outbreaks, and now there is one more group in the mix. Without a federal presence, states could begin adopting a patchwork set of regulations, Marion Aller, president of the Association of Food & Drug Officials, warned attendees of an April 13

The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA, has announced that its Valley of the World Hall of Fame honored George Boutonnet, Joe Nucci, and Art, Dick and Gene Sbrana posthumously. The new inductees will receive permanent recognition in a visual display to be installed in the fall in the museum. The National Steinbeck Center established the Valley of the World Hall of Fame in 2005 to recognize key pioneers of the Salinas Valley Agricultural Industry. The Hall of Fame will grow each year as new members are recognized. A dinner was held Wednesday, April 18, at Corral de Tierra Country Club in