New agricultural water standards is a top item of concern for United Fresh Produce Association leaders, and the industry has until Nov. 15 to comment on the sweeping new food safety rules, David Gombas, senior vice president for food safety and technology at United Fresh, said during an Aug. 13 webinar.

Expect the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act rules to be explored at the Sept. 30-Oct. 2 annual Washington Public Policy Conference, where United Fresh gathers top government leaders each year to discuss issues with the industry.

Sobeys Inc., a leading Canadian retailer that operates more than 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces, announced a partnership with world-renowned chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver, designed to educate, inspire and empower Canadians to eat better.

As an advocate for change and a promoter of better food internationally, Oliver will work with Sobeys stores to champion enhanced food knowledge, balanced nutrition, quality ingredients and cooking skills for Canadians. His collaboration with Sobeys will begin this fall.

COMSTOCK PARK, MI — Two related and highly sophisticated construction projects are under way here and in nearby Sparta, MI. Apple storage, packing and shipping is a common thread. But the 178,000-square-foot Comstock Park facility will also be a wholesale produce distribution facility owned and operated by Heeren Bros. Produce, which, until this fall, is still operating from nearby Grand Rapids, MI.

HARTFORD, MI — Five apple seasons ago, Holly Rogers-Rios arrived at Core Farms LLC, here, via Paraguay.

The fair-haired young woman hails from nearby Lawton, MI, and in 2006 graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in agricultural and natural resources communications, and a minor in international agriculture.

She then joined the Peace Corps and moved to Paraguay for a two-year hitch, which she later modified to last for three.

HARTFORD, MI — When 72-year old Roger Kropf says he has been in the apple business all of his life, he means it. He started working with his parents in the apple business when he was “10 or 12 years old. When I was 17 years old, my mom died.” His dad then put him on the road to sell the fruit.

Kropf, who is the owner of Core Farms LLC, based here, said that for all the changes, in many ways the apple business has remained the same.

“An apple tree is an apple tree is an apple tree. We have the same insects doing damage as we had 50 years ago.”

SPARTA, MI — To prepare its well-established packinghouse for the 2011 apple season, Jack Brown Produce Inc., here, added a sophisticated second packingline. Among other benefits, the new line brought a capability to scan for internal defects in apples, according to Sales Manager, Mitchell Brinks.

Then, a frost reduced the 2012 Michigan apple crop to less than 10 percent of the state’s normal volume. Although Jack Brown packed some apples until November 2012, the firm’s equipment was grossly under utilized. Still, the new line worked well.