WASHINGTON -- Dynamic Western Hemisphere port development activity became readily apparent at the spring conference of the American Association of Port Authorities, which is based in Alexandria, VA. The association's spring meeting was held March 31 at the Willard Inter- Continental Hotel, here. Presenters from the United States and other countries spoke April 1 at the conference, which ended with the Mexican port administration hosting a social engagement at the Organization of American States. Diego Ferrer, the commercial counselor from the Panamanian Embassy in Washington, described the

Much like the way its product is activated, Pak Sense Inc. believes its new Ultra Labels will make the ordering process for the product a snap. The Boise, ID-based manufacturer of sensory solutions for packaging recently released the Ultra Label, a new line of standard configurations for the firm's award-winning temperature-monitoring label. The new Ultra Label simplifies the ordering process for PakSense's customers and provides quicker turnaround time on orders, according to Amy Childress, its marketing programs director. The Ultra Label line has standard temperature-range specifications for

New nursery asparagus planted two years ago is coming into production this season for Nyssa, OR-based Owyhee Produce, and General Manager Shay Myers said in late March that he anticipated good volume throughout the mid-April to mid-June shipping season. Farming 100 acres of asparagus as well as onions and mint, the multi- generation family operation ships its grass under the "Family Farms" label. "We pack only our own product," said Robin Froerer, Mr. Shay's mother and daughter of farm patriarch Owen Froerer, who also works in sales at the company. Heretofore, asparagus has gone out under the

Grapes from Sonora, Mexico, are the first North American grapes of the season to hit the market, and they typically start in early May. This year, many shippers expect to start their earliest varieties around May 5-10. But the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales, AZ, which represents over 100 U.S. member-companies involved in growing, packing, sales and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Mexico, wants produce buyers across the country to understand that far from being just a May deal, Sonora grapes actually are at peak production during the month of June

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer will deliver the keynote address Tuesday, May 6 at the United Fresh Produce Association's annual meeting and breakfast general session in Las Vegas, NV. Following breakfast and his keynote address, the secretary is also scheduled to visit the United FreshTech and United Fresh Marketplace shows later Tuesday morning. "We are delighted that Secretary Schafer will be able to meet our produce industry's leaders at the convention," United President Tom Stenzel said in an April 16 statement. "Since coming to Washington, DC, in January, Secretary

Ten years ago, California blueberry production barely registered on the radar screen. Today, the state is the fifth-largest highbush blueberry producer in the United States behind only Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington. Highbush blueberries are the type grown in California and 37 other states, and they are distinguished from the lowbush blueberry that is used for processing and is grown in places such as Maine and eastern Canada. Helping to grow the deal in various ways is the three-year-old California Blueberry Association, which consists of grower members and support trade members