Eurofresh Farms has redesigned package labels for its fresh tomatoes and cucumbers to inform consumers about growing practices, care and handling tips. The "Fresh Idea" labels will also help retailers notify consumers about the best uses for each variety. Research conducted by the Perishables Group, a fresh food industry consulting firm, showed that 66 percent of shoppers do not know which type of tomato is best used for sandwiches, recipes or snacking. Pictures of pasta sauces, salads and sandwiches featured on the labels will identify the produce as ingredients in homemade meals. Dwight

The Peruvian Asparagus Importer's Association has indicted that asparagus production in Peru is forecast to increase by 10 percent this year, and the association expects that exports to the United States for the 2009-10 season will also increase. Many importers said that their own volumes are expected to increase fairly significantly and backed up this viewpoint. Most importers are anticipating a 5-15 percent increase in total volume, but many said their own firms will see their individual volume increase more than that. Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern

Alexander Ott, executive director of the California Apple Commission, said that the state's apple producers are anticipating a quality crop for the 2009 season. "Size looks good, and the crop looks clean," he told The Produce News in late July. Last season, growers experienced very favorable conditions, with the 2008 crop exceeding industry expectations. This season, growers and handlers are cautiously optimistic. "We're projecting near to where we were last year," Mr. Ott said. "We're being conservative right now." California has approximately 23,183 acres in apple production for fresh

"We're really in planning mode for the 2010 crop year," Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission in Irvine, CA, told The Produce News. The California avocado industry was just wrapping up its smallest crop in decades, but the 2010 crop was expected to be at least double 2009. "So as we are looking to the future," there is, within the commission, "a real desire to keep the marketing dollars working," Ms. DeLyser said. During 2009, because of the light volume, commission programs "focused on the West," she said. "We had real strong pull on the fruit, and

The United Fresh Produce Association announced that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will deliver the keynote address at the group's Washington Public Policy Conference in September. "Secretary Vilsack is a staunch supporter of fruits and vegetables, and we couldn't be happier to introduce him personally to our members at this fall's conference," United Fresh President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel said in a statement. "Secretary Vilsack is in a unique position of helping guide the Obama administration's efforts to increase consumption of fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables

Results of a survey conducted in June by the Produce for Better Health Foundation regarding the idea of a National Fruit & Vegetable Research & Promotion Board are in, but the low response rate indicates that more outreach is needed before a second survey is conducted. The foundation e-mailed an electronic survey to growers, shippers, processors and importers on the topic of a national research and promotion board. Despite extending the survey deadline by an additional week (for a total of three weeks), only 248 people of the 3,104 who received the survey responded, for an overall response