The National Watermelon Association believes the future success of the industry lies in developing the talent and interest of its younger members.

In fact, NWA is so passionate about this belief that it is gearing its five-year plan around building value for members of Generation Y.

The short cold snap that swept across Florida in February did have some negative effect on field crops, but according to Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers Produce Sales Inc., headquartered in Cheriton, VA, by April 1 the new crop will be shipping and is expected to be high quality and with good volumes.

“Squash had some issues because the cold shortens — or weakens — the shelf life,” said Cullen. “Peppers had some bloom effect. We were somewhat limited to local sales on these items.

WASHINGTON — A new study released Wednesday finds a global appetite for organic food in foreign markets and suggests U.S. farmers should take better advantage of the rising foreign demand as well as growing U.S. demand for organic produce.

Multifaceted actress/athlete/advocate Geena Davis will keynote at the PMA Foundation Women's Fresh Perspectives Conference in Loews Coronado Bay in San Diego at the April 28 closing session with an address entitled “Geena Takes Aim: Empowering Women.”