When current Southeast Produce Council President John Shuman of Shuman Produce Inc. in Reidsville, GA, turns over the gavel to new leadership at the SPC Fall show in Asheville, NC, it will be the first time in seven years he has been free of the burden of council leadership.

Just before Labor Day, Kevin Concannon, agriculture under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, along with School Nutrition Association National President Sandy Ford and National Parent Teacher Association President Betsy Landers, hosted a media conference call to discuss the changes to school meals being implemented this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wal-Mart, the National Restaurant Association and U.S. meat associations are the latest to warn that reopening the U.S. tomato agreement with Mexico would lead to unstable tomato supplies, damage other food shipments and hurt consumers, said the Fresh Produce Association of Americas.

The agreement sets a minimum price that Mexican producers/exporters can sell their fresh and chilled tomatoes to eliminate damaging effects of exports on U.S.-grown tomatoes.

With the universal emphasis on healthier eating in all corners of our nation, opportunities are expanding for the fruit and vegetable industry, both in the fresh market and for processing. For the creative marketer, there seems to be no limit to the possibilities.

SUN VALLEY, ID — Travis Blacker, president of the Idaho Grower Shipper Association, will leave his post at the end of September to become industry relations director for the Idaho Potato Commission. The announcement was made Aug. 30 during the 84th annual IGSA convention, here.

The 2012 fall produce season is underway and should be highlighted by good quantities of high-quality produce available for wholesale and retail purchase. To understand New Jersey's fall season, one needs to take a look at the extraordinary weather that its farmers have had to deal with to produce the fall crops. This is the third season in a row that weather has had a major effect on the season. This season is very similar to two years ago.