Very few people would argue with the desirability of buying locally grown produce in season. But there are those who object so strongly to transporting any foodstuff beyond a minimum arbitrary distance (most commonly 500 miles), mainly owing to the consumption of fossil fuels in transit, that for the sake of the environment, they urge people to eat nothing -- or next to nothing -- that has not been produced close to home. The food-miles concept has been around for a while, particularly in Europe, but it has been getting a great deal of media attention recently in the United States. Most

NAPLES, FL -- What is the Food Network's newest star? Florida tomatoes. Samantha Winters, director of education and promotion for the Florida Tomato Committee, took the wraps off its newest marketing campaign during her presentation at the committee's organizational meeting, part of the 32nd Joint Tomato Conference held here at the Ritz-Carlton Naples. The new campaign, which will run exclusively on the Food Network, will feature three or four, 15-second commercials. One is newly designed and will tout the promotion, and the remaining two or three will be existing commercials that have been

Minneapolis-based C.H. Robinson Co. is introducing a new line of fresh organic products. "Our World Organics" will debut at the 2007 Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention and exposition in Houston. "Our World Organics" not only promotes healthier lifestyles and environmentally friendly products, it supports activities that lead to long- term sustainable agricultural practices aimed at minimizing the impact on the environment, according to a company statement. Over the next several years, C.H. Robinson will utilize its extensive relationships with growers and transportation

Melones Internacional, whose greenhouse vegetables from Sinaloa, Mexico, were formerly packed in the "Chiquita/ABC" brand and marketed through Chiquita Frupac Inc., are now being packed in a new label, "Plain Jane," just launched by the company. Melones Internacional, whose founder and chief operating officer is Alejandro Canelos, has corporate headquarters in Culiacan, Sinaloa, and in Phoenix, AZ. Distribution of the products is handled through Apache Produce Co. Inc. in Nogales, AZ, according to a company fact sheet. Melones was started in 1994 and expanded into cucumbers. "The success of

Widespread media reports are indicating that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns would resign his post to seek an open seat in the Senate from his home state of Nebraska. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) said earlier this month that he would not seek re-election to a third term. Mr. Hagel had apparently met with Mr. Johanns Sept. 18 and encouraged him to run for the seat, according to media reports. Mr. Hagel would not confirm Mr. Johanns' candidacy, but said that the agriculture secretary would make an announcement soon. Mr. Johanns, 57, a former mayor of Lincoln, was first elected governor of

New York Bold LLC announced a new partnership with Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc. that will bring "America's Cooking Onion" to consumers across America. "This new partnership with Keystone will allow us to bring the taste and cooking versatility of New York Bold onions to consumers nationwide," Judy Queale-Dunsmoor, president of sales and marketing for New York Bold, said in a press release. "Since we began to brand these onions, we have become the cooking onion for our regional area and now we are ready to branch out into other markets. Keystone has the experience and resources to help us do