WASHINGTON — Lifting tariffs as high as 40 percent on U.S. fruits is one of the reasons the Obama administration is advocating for the Trans Pacific Partnership, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said recently.

U.S. trade negotiators are trying to hammer out the biggest trade deal on the TPP with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

USDA pointed to key commodities that would benefit from the trade deal.

Southern Specialties has started shipping Florida-grown blueberries in six-ounce "Southern Selects" clamshells. This year’s blueberry crop will include Farthing, Flicker, Chickadee and Meadowlark varieties. Florida blueberries, Southern Selects blackberries and premium Adelita variety raspberries are distributed from the company’s Pompano Beach, FL, distribution facility.

A mild winter in British Columbia’s lower mainland is setting the stage for an outstanding season at the region’s top organic greenhouse grower, Origin Organic Farms in Delta, BC, according to a company press release.

“With no prolonged cold spell over the last few months, the plants are thriving beautifully,” Raymond Wong, company president, said in the release.

Houweling’s Tomatoes continues to reinforce its position as an innovative world-class leader with the addition of its new greenhouse facilities in Mona, UT.

“The Utah expansion is a significant addition to Houweling’s portfolio, as both a year-round supply of USA-grown tomatoes and as a model for sustainable agriculture,” David Bell, chief marketing officer, told The Produce News.

ORLANDO, FL — “Save the Queen,” a documentary video on the disappearing honeybee and Colony Collapse Disorder, brought the good news about the apparent rebound in bee colonies in recent years as efforts were mounted to stem the losses.

Ahold USA announced the departure of Joe Kelley, president of the Stop & Shop New England division, effective March 2. The company said he has resigned from his position to pursue other career opportunities.

Don Sussman, division president of Stop & Stop New York Metro, will also oversee the Stop & Shop New England division on an interim basis. Sussman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Cornell, as well as his MBA from Cornell Business School, has held his current position with Ahold since late in 2011.