WASHINGTON -- By a 283-to-142 vote, the House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 but only after House Agriculture Committee Republicans tried to send the bill back to committee to make it more farm-friendly. HR 2749 would require the Food & Drug Administrtation to set strong performance standards, create a food traceback system, inspect facilities more frequently and set new controls for imported foods. FDA would add new authority to access records, levy penalties and collect a dedicated source of funding for food safety. "There's nothing [in] this bill that's

Going into the mid-summer months, which is typically when Chinese garlic makes its presence known, reflected in the U.S. f.o.b. price, the U.S. garlic market is strong and should remain so for the foreseeable future. "There is 25-30 percent less garlic in China than there was at this time last year," said John Wang of Canada Garlic Inc. in Toronto. He said that it is a simple case of Chinese garlic growers and shippers not making any money over the past two to three years, so they have reduced their acreage and moved into other vegetable crops where the demand was expected to be stronger

Maxco Supply Inc. in Parlier, CA, has announced the release of its new micro flute tri-wall container, which it said is stronger, lighter and more eco- friendly than other produce containers. Another important characteristic of the new tri-wall configuration is the smooth exterior created by using micro flutes. These micro flutes virtually eliminate flute lines, allowing for cleaner, brighter graphics and printing. This will allow for even better-looking packaging to grab consumers' attention. "We have produced prototype containers that exceed 5,000 pounds top to bottom," Joe Sepe, general

You see a sign in the produce department on a display reading, "Homegrown Sweet Corn." What immediately enters your mind? The corn must taste great, having just been picked from a nearby farm. The word "homegrown" influences your brain, which selects, organizes and deciphers the information from the sign and develops a meaning. That particular meaning results in a certain psychological feeling. It's all part of perception. When you enter a place of business such as a retail store, an office, a warehouse or a farm, what does your brain focus on immediately? It's usually something that stands

The 2009 grape harvest in California's San Joaquin Valley, home to the preponderance of fresh-market grape vineyards in the United States, got off to a faster-than-expected start, with many shippers saying that their first Flames were ready to harvest with full color, full sugar and good berry size a week or more sooner than anticipated. The phenomenon occurred not just in the traditionally early districts at the southern end of the valley but north through Delano and up into the Reedley and Fresno areas. As is always the case, not everyone had the same experience. Soils, microclimates

MONTEREY, CA -- Is it possible to double the consumption of fresh produce in foodservice venues over the next 10 years? The opening session of the Produce Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference & Exposition, here, Saturday, July 25, dealt with a collaborative initiative among three industry associations with exactly that objective. PMA President Brian Silbermann led the discussion with panel members consisting of supply chain presidents and chief executive officers who are members of the National Restaurant Association and the International Foodservice Distributors Association. The