Rainier Fruit Co. in Selah, WA, and Wenatchee-based Columbia Marketing International, both major players in the Northwest fruit industry, recently teamed up for distribution of Grapple apples. Exclusive rights to process, package, market and sell the apple product were granted to Rainier and CMI in August by Grapple Fruits LLC, which owns the patent on Grapple apples. According to Suzanne Wolter, marketing director for Rainier, product will start shipping in early October, and retail distribution will be across the United States. "Right now we're focusing on the United States," Ms. Wolter said

WASHINGTON -- Facing an urgency in the field and in Congress, the United Fresh Produce Association singled out immigration reform as its most important issue, attracting top congressional and Bush administration officials to respond to the crisis at the Washington Public Policy Conference, held here Sept. 13. While it is unclear whether the agriculture industry will see Congress create a stable workforce this year, the group traveled to Washington to tell its story about the cost of not fixing the foreign worker system. "We're the canary in the coal mine," United Fresh Produce Association

Retailers and foodservice operators are scrambling to remove bagged spinach products the day after the U.S. Food & Drug Administrative advised all consumers not to eat the products as FDA officials try to narrow the cause of a multi-state outbreak. Fifty people in eight states have been linked through DNA fingerprinting to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that health officials say may be attributed to bagged spinach products. The first illness was confirmed Aug. 25, said FDA, and the agency is working to identify the product brand. One person has died. "This is a devastating blow for spinach," said

WASHINGTON -- A new produce association was formally introduced Tuesday evening, Sept. 12 during United's annual Washington Public Policy Conference here in the nation's capital. The International Fresh-cut Produce Association and United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association have completed their legal merger, thus launching what it termed a new era of service to the produce industry by the new group, the United Fresh Produce Association. The new organization will go by the name United Fresh, signaling its heritage from both associations, while providing an easily recognizable transition to build

Carzalia Valley Produce in Columbus, NM, recently finished the final stage of its massive extension and renovation project. "It is a 90,000-square-foot onion shed with six truck-loading docks for pumpkins, onions and watermelons," said Chaddy Robinson, public relations and marketing representative for Carzalia Valley Produce Inc. "The structure is the size of two football fields. Carzalia is on a very positive path currently. We are being very aggressive and proactive in our use of technological advances, especially as they apply to improving labor issues and reducing overhead costs, but at

Chuck Curl has joined Blue Book Services as director of ratings. He succeeds Larry McDaniel, former director of ratings, who after 18 years with the Blue Book relocated to Florida to be closer to family. Mr. Curl has over 25 years of produce industry experience and most recently was director of ratings for Red Book Credit Services. "I am thrilled to join the fresh produce industry's resource for timely, accurate and reliable credit rating and marketing information," Mr. Curl said in a statement. "It is great to be a part of an organization committed to providing businesses that serve the