MONTREAL -- Trade between Mexico and Canada increased 21 percent in 2006, thanks in large part to the agricultural products that Mexico sends to its northern neighbor. "Just in agricultural products, the increase was 35 percent, and a very important part of the jump is thanks to fruits and vegetables," Enrique Lobo, the minister of agricultural affairs for the embassy of Mexico in Canada, told The Produce News. "They have been a very important player in the increase of exports from Mexico to Canada," and barring any unforeseen weather problems, "we expect the trend to continue to increase for

Tanimura & Antle is hoping consumers step up to the plate with a fork instead of a baseball bat, but with baseball and fathers -- and the company's Iceberg lettuce -- in mind. The Salinas-based lettuce giant is introducing its "Hit A Home Run This Father's Day" retail promotion with Iceberg lettuce wrapped in a baseball theme. The idea is for T&A to stake a marketing claim to Father's Day as its own. It may be an easy fit for a company looking for a holiday and a holiday in need of a commodity. T&A captures a baseball theme with an image of red baseball-like stitches on the wrappers of its

The California Tree Fruit Agreement announced that Sheri Mierau, president, would accompany California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on his trade mission to Canada on May 29-31. While in Canada, Ms. Mierau will join other agricultural representatives in promoting California agriculture in Canada, which has been the top trading partner for the California peach, plum and nectarine industry for more than 20 years. Canada accounts for over half of the total peach, plum and nectarine exports and approximately 10 percent of total annual packout. "We are excited about this opportunity because of the

WASHINGTON -- With the future of immigration reform hanging by a thread, 160 growers and producers descended on Congress May 16 to warn of the dire circumstances to an industry unable to find a legal workforce. "There are consequences to you, the country, if Congress does nothing," warned Monte Lake, a legal advisor to the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform and an attorney with McGuiness & Williams. Mr. Lake said that agricultural lobbyists should make Congress understand the impact of job losses if businesses fail due to labor problems. He said that the labor crisis could only

Los Angeles-based Harvest Sensations and Brentwood, CA-based Frog Hollow Farm have entered into a national distribution agreement for all of Frog Hollow's fresh fruit and value-added fruit products, including purees, individually quick-frozen fruit slices and conserves. Frog Hollow Farm grows multiple varieties of stone fruit including peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, pluots and cherries. Harvest Sensations will distribute Frog Hollow products through its 36- member Pro*Act network and through Harvest Sensations Direct, an overnight service available to chefs across the United States

After reviewing studies on Fit fruit and vegetable wash, the U.S. Army has approved it as an alternative sanitizer for fresh fruits and vegetables used by the military, a move that may clear the way for the Fit manufacturer to market the antibacterial product to government installations. "We were approached by the manufacturer and found it worked," said Alphonso (Rick) Byrd of the Army Center for Excellence, Quality Assurance Division. The group, based in Fort Lee, VA, is in charge of providing food- safety advice for the military's worldwide foodservice program. U.S. Army food-safety