Two days worth of chef demonstrations at the American Culinary Federation Western Regional Conference in Couer d'Alene, ID, included one of the region's more prominent commodities, the Idaho-eastern Oregon onion. According to Sherise Jones, marketing director for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee based in Parma, ID, the event was held April 15-17 and was coordinated by Idaho Preferred, a state branding promotional division of the Idaho Department of Agriculture. Some 600 chefs were expected to attend the conference, including two with whom the committee works closely on its own

BOSTON -- The theme of "Hollywood Days/Hollywood Nights" was quite appropriate for this year's New England Produce Council Produce & Floral Expo, April 25 here at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, as it was the produce industry that took center stage at the annual event. "This has become the premier event in New England for produce," Bob McGowan, NEPC president and the vice president of Eastern Sales & Marketing, told The Produce News. "I am very pleased, particularly because of the support we are getting from retailers and the great support from the trade. I am proud of our

Members of the California Pear Advisory Board received word in mid-April that the state's pear growers had overwhelmingly approved the expansion of the California pear-marketing program to all pear varieties produced in the state with the exception of Asian pears. The board, which operates under oversight of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, has existed since 1992 to administer marketing programs on behalf of producers of the state's most abundant pear variety, the Bartlett. With this recent vote of support, the marketing order will now represent other pear varieties grown in

Against the backdrop of pressure from home development, high labor costs and a problematic sustained labor pool, Coachella Valley's table grape acreage maxed out some years back. And there's no reason to suspect the situation will reverse itself. Robert Bianco of Coachella, CA-based Anthony Vineyards said that table grape acreage in the Coachella Valley won't climb because people "can't buy land for agriculture" since it's too expensive. Table grapes still are the top crop in the Coachella Valley, but the valley has shaken out most of its smaller players over the years to where primarily

Attendees at this year's All Things Organic convention and trade show will have an opportunity to gain insights into the dynamically growing organic field and find out how to stay on top of their game. These special events and seminars, arranged by the Organic Trade Association, focus on a multitude of important topics for OTA members and non-members alike. Things kick into high gear Saturday, May 5. Two special seminars will be offered to OTA members as part of OTA Member Day. "Crisis Planning for Marketing and PR Professionals" will help companies learn how to deal with the media during

A grassroots measure begun three years ago as a junior high civics class project has been endorsed by both houses of the Washington state Legislature and only awaited the signature of Gov. Christine Gregoire to make it official as of April 6. The Walla Walla sweet onion will be, barring an unexpected veto by Gov. Gregoire, the Washington state vegetable. Legislation passed the state House on Feb. 13 and the Senate on April 5. According to Kathy Fry, director of marketing for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, the designation is appropriate. Ms. Fry explained that the history of