WASHINGTON -- California's deep freeze that damaged citrus crops and the E. coli outbreak that cost the spinach industry $100 million show how quickly conditions can change in agriculture, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said at a Jan. 23 meeting with fruit and vegetable industry representatives.

Less than a week following the week-long freeze that devastated the California citrus crop, California Citrus Mutual released an initial assessment of the extent of the damage.

According to the Jan. 23 release, a total of around 86.6 million cartons of citrus in eight counties were believed lost to the freeze. The gross loss is estimated to exceed $800 million.

WASHINGTON -- Facing a crisis in consumer confidence, the United Fresh Produce Association's board of directors voted to endorse federal mandatory food-safety standards that would cover U.S. and imported fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm through the distribution chain to the consumer.

The National Mango Board has announced new officers and a new marketing director to spearhead a bevy of dynamic marketing and promotion activities planned for 2007.

At its December board meeting in San Francisco, the board approved a new budget and appointed new officers: Ismael Diaz of Rio Rico, AZ, as chairman; Isabel Freeland of San Diego, CA, as vice chairman; Sue Duleba of Hidalgo, TX, as treasurer; and Ingrid Rivas of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, as secretary. The board is entering its second full year of operation.

It's hard to believe that the month of January is quickly coming to a close. This is about the time most people who chose to go on a diet are now backing off it.

Also, those who purchased or received one of those awkward exercise gadgets have tucked it away with the others, either in the garage, attic or basement.

You've heard that old saying, "After the first of the year, I'm going on a diet to lose weight." Or something like, "We'll get to it after the first of the year." Everything always seems to be planned for "after the first of the year."

SALINAS, CA -- The California Department of Food & Agriculture announced Jan. 24 that the proposed Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which would establish an inspection program for handlers of leafy greens, has been released for sign-ups.

The proposed agreement, which was created by the leafy greens industry and is being facilitated by CDFA, would utilize the inspection program to verify that leafy greens handlers are complying with their own standards. Handlers are middlemen through whom product moves from field to retail.