The 2009 produce season is underway and should be highlighted by good quantities of high-quality produce. So far this year, the weather has had a mild impact on New Jersey produce. Early warm and dry spring conditions quickly yielded to overcast and rainy weather which slowly warmed the soil. This resulted in later plowing and planting as well as more gradual growing conditions and bee pollination. The weather has continued to be very seasonal in nature, leaving us slightly behind a normal production schedule at this time although unusual future weather could always affect the eventual harvest

CITRUSDAL, SOUTH AFRICA -- The season's first shipload of South African citrus sailed May 31 from Cape Town and is scheduled to arrive about June 24 on the Delaware River's Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ. Many grower-packers throughout the Citrusdal shipping district interviewed by The Produce News May 27-29 indicated that the quality of their fruit is excellent. Several packinghouse tours verified the claims. Piet Smit, chief executive officer of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, based here, told The Produce News May 27 that Citrusdal growers had first packed

WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) circulated a draft food- safety bill May 26 that would levy new fees on all facilities registered with the Food & Drug Administration to pay for more frequent inspections and set new produce safety standards. After months of speculation about food-safety legislation, a powerful House committee is scheduled to hold its first hearing on the bill June 3. "This is the driver in the House for food-safety legislation," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association, who added that a subcommittee plans

Almost one year after the debut of Six L's Vintage Ripe tomatoes, the new heirloom variety has found its stride with year-round production and increased acreage of nearly 25 percent. The new Vintage Ripe tomato season kicked off June 1 with production coming from South Carolina. The deal then transitions to Virginia for the months of July through October before rounding out the season with Florida production November through May. Vintage Ripe tomatoes are marketed as a vine-ripened premium tomato with "authentic tomato flavor." Vintage Ripe heirloom-style tomato differs in appearance from

Cherry growers and shippers in the Pacific Northwest are starting to exhale as they prepare to move into production for this season's crop. Unlike 2008, the year during which frost severely damaged the annual crop, prospects for 2009 have the industry excited. "We've had really nice growing conditions all the way through," Andrew Willis, Northwest Cherry Growers promotion director, told The Produce News in late May. "We had a nice-sized bloom. The pollination period was really ideal. We're looking at what we see as a pretty good crop." Producers anticipate good product quality in 2009. There

Maine agricultural products and Maine-made goods were the center of attention at a special "Made in Maine" celebration held May 19 at the Walmart in Augusta, ME. Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Ned Porter and Secretary of State Matt Dunlap joined representatives of Maine companies, legislators, local school children and Walmart associates and customers in promoting the quality of Maine products. "Demand for our Maine-grown, vine-ripened tomatoes is so strong we are adding 75 employees at our newly expanded greenhouse operations," Roy Lubetkin, president of Backyard Farms, which will soon