The Washington Apple Commission is expecting the 2007-08 apple crop to be down approximately 3 percent when compared to 2006-07, which is expected to finish around 98.9 million boxes. In 2007-08 the Red Delicious crop, which accounts for approximately 35 percent of total apple volume from Washington, is expected to be down approximately 5.9 million boxes due to cold spring weather and light return bloom. Good supplies of top grades are expected, and quality is good. Gala production is expected to increase by approximately 1.4 million boxes. Quality is expected to be good with a range of sizes

Nearly three years ago, a study conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles and published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that "nutrients in avocados can work together to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells." UCLA researchers "discovered that avocados are the richest source of lutein among commonly eaten fruits," according to a UCLA press release. Lutein is a carotenoid that acts as an antioxidant and that has been linked to reduced risk of prostate cancer in previous studies, but the UCLA study suggested that the combination of lutein and other nutrients

SUN VALLEY, ID -- The Idaho Potato Commission announced initiatives for its 2007-08 season that include the release of two new commercials with spokesperson Denise Austin and the launch of a major cable television commercial campaign expected to make over a billion consumer impressions nationwide. The commission, which is now in its 70th year of operation, announced the developments as part of its overall action plan for 2007-08 during the 79th annual meeting of the Idaho Grower-Shipper Association, held here Aug. 29-31. Frank Muir, president of the Eagle, ID-based organization, led the

On the one-year anniversary of the spinach recall, Congress has turned its attention in recent weeks to front-page news about China imports and is likely to pass legislation that will place new requirements on food importers. But the produce industry is aware that one more outbreak during the coming weeks could redirect the attention of lawmakers to legislate a fix. This is exactly the turn of events that took place on Aug. 29 after news that King City, CA-based Metz Fresh LLC had launched a voluntary recall of bagged spinach. Both Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) fired off

NAPLES, FL -- The Florida tomato industry has seen the value of its crop drop nearly $260 million over the past three seasons. The grim statistic was given by Reggie Brown, executive director of the Florida Tomato Committee, during his state of the industry speech Sept. 5 at the Florida Tomato Institute, part of the 32nd Joint Tomato Conference, held here Sept. 5-8. "Going back to 2004-05, this industry sold round tomatoes under a federal marketing order here in the state for a value of some $663 million," Mr. Brown told attendees at the event, held here at the Ritz-Carlton. "The year after

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has pledged to introduce food- safety legislation that will focus solely on fresh produce after the latest spinach recall, this time from Metz Fresh LLC, hit the newspapers last month. "With the memory of last summer's massive E. coli outbreak in spinach still fresh in our minds, Americans are once again being hit by a large-scale recall of bagged spinach," Sen. Harkin said in an Aug. 30 statement. "For American consumers and producers, it is long overdue for the FDA to exercise more oversight of food-safety practices both in the field and in the processing