The Indiana Department of Agriculture has made great strides in not only promoting state-produced foods, but in bringing consumers and producers together. Tony Hahn, deputy director of the department, headquartered in Indianapolis, said that the agency's web-based Indiana Agritourism and Farmers' Market Online Directory is a new program now accessible at www.in.gov/apps/isda_farmersmarket. "The site was launched this spring, just in time for the Indiana's farmers market season," said Mr. Hahn. "Visitors can search for local foods and agricultural destinations throughout Indiana, and find

WATSONVILLE, CA -- California Giant Berry Farms is heading to New York City to join other partners in bringing the complete Wimbledon experience to Rockefeller Center. Throughout the week of June 21, partners in the promotion will give fans a taste of all the tournament has to offer, including the famous tradition of enjoying fresh strawberries and cream. A similar program launched last year and was so successful that the partners are back for another round. The New York events will kick off Monday, June 21, with former world No. 1 ranked players Jim Courier and Jennifer Capriati enjoying

WASHINGTON -- One of the larger organic certifying companies was banned from operating in China June 14 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the company used inspectors employed by the Chinese government for third-party inspections. The latest action comes after a two-year probe into the company. Starting in August 2007, USDA conducted an on-site audit of the Organic Crop Improvement Association in China and found that it used inspectors connected to the Chinese government to police government-owned farms. Farms are supposed to be checked by independent auditors under USDA rules

Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. announced in mid-June the launch of "Buy a bunch, lose a bunch," an integrated marketing campaign that aims to engage consumers with Del Monte's motto, "Eat healthy, live healthy." The initiative focuses on bananas, the most purchased fresh fruit by U.S. consumers, as an affordable diet staple to lose and maintain weight. "Buy a bunch, lose a bunch" kicks off the first day of summer, when consumers are looking to trim extra pounds and get into great shape for summertime fun. The new campaign "combines traditional in-store signage with social and mobile media to

BONITA SPRINGS, FL -- Philosophers have long pondered, "If a tree falls in the forest, and there's no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?" What Florida citrus growers want to know is, "If an advertising campaign is created and executed, but no one sees it, does it have an impact?" In late 2007, the Florida Citrus Commission announced that TV star Tom Selleck of "Magnum, P.I." fame had agreed to lend his voice to the industry's advertising campaign, with the theme, "Florida orange juice -- healthy, pure and simple." But in 2008, the Florida citrus industry, facing declining revenues

More than $10,000 was raised for local charities earlier in June through a golf tournament featuring the Philadelphia produce industry. The Philadelphia chapter of the United Fresh Produce Association held the ninth annual Louis Penza Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament June 11 at the Medford Village Country Club. Participating Philadelphia Regional Produce Market operators, suppliers and guests numbered 92, creating 23 foursomes. "We had perfect weather. It was a fun day to get people together from the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market," tournament Chairman Louis Penza Jr. told The Produce News.