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. News that investigators are eyeing one shift at a processing plant could mean the spinach industry is one step closer to returning to what was a lucrative market. The issue cannot be settled fast enough for Arizona growers, who must decide within the next few weeks whether to put spinach in the ground. Salinas Valley growers, who are hoping to salvage a dismal season, will need to adhere to a one-time food-safety action plan being brokered by

Growers of Washington potatoes, apples and onions had a chance to talk with Mike Begnaud, who handles sales for Rail Logistics LC about new rail service through the Washington Produce Railcar Pool program. Mr. Begnaud arrived in Moses Lake, WA, on Sept. 18 to visit with the Washington State Potato Commission and coordinate grower visits prior to his return to Overland Park, KS. A contract between the Washington State Department of Transportation and Rail Logistics was signed in August, and the agreement represents a unique partnership of the public and private sectors, said Karen Bonaudi

WASHINGTON -- Canadian produce marketers have raised concerns about new user fees due to be levied on Canadian shipments of fruits and vegetables to help pick up the tab for increased U.S. inspections. The issue surfaced during high-level trade negotiations between the agriculture chiefs of the two countries earlier this month. On Aug. 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an emergency rule, which goes into effect in November, that would increase inspections and slap new fees on Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables exported to the United States by commercial vessels, trucks, railcars

The New York -- and national -- produce industries have been big supporters of the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation. A fundraiser three years ago was so successful -- it raised $430,000 -- that the effort was sufficient to fund the activities of the all-volunteer foundation for three years. John Acompora, the father of the late high school lacrosse player Louis Acompora, said that the foundation is again in need of funding. He hopes a grand fundraiser planned for Oct. 14 will be sufficient to fund the foundation for another three years. Mr. Acompora works in the Hunts Point Terminal

TRENTON, NJ -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus welcomed the Food & Drug Administration's decision to declare spinach grown outside a three-county area in California safe for consumption. "This is good news for our New Jersey spinach farmers, who were very concerned that they would not have a market for their fresh spinach due to a crisis not of their own making," Secretary Kuperus said in a Sept. 23 statement. "Our job now is to very aggressively help our farmers to re- establish consumer confidence in spinach through our Jersey Fresh branding program and the continued

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Veggie Mascots were officially named during a special ceremony that was held at the Big E on Wednesday, Sept. 20, Connecticut Day. The names were selected from suggestions submitted by residents throughout Connecticut, and the individuals who submitted the winning names were greeted and introduced by Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli during the ceremony. The residents included Linda Willey of Bristol who submitted Beta Carrot, Jean and Joey Barnes of Suffield whose entry was Juicy Lucy, and Mary, Patrick and Ashlynn Worster of