The recent surge in sweet potato popularity and consumption can be attributed to consumers learning about its high nutritional value.

WASHINGTON — The produce industry will likely be gearing up for a fight in Congress this year as the School Nutrition Association released its 2015 position paper Jan. 29 vowing to fight the federal requirements that children eat one-half cup of fruits and vegetables in school meals.

Christopher Ranch, headquartered in Gilroy, CA, has recently added organic shallots to its well-known line of garlic, onions and other specialty organic items.

Patsy Ross, vice president of marketing for the company said shallots are a close relative of both garlic and onions.

Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo is gaining excellent momentum from its infrastructure rebuilding and crop replanting efforts initiated after the devastation from Hurricane Odile’s direct hit to Baja in the fall of 2014.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill this week that would merge all food-safety-related programs across 15 agencies into a single, independent food-safety agency.

The two lawmakers have introduced the bill before with little success, but they’re hoping to gain support from fiscally conservative members of the new GOP-controlled Congress.

Avocados from Mexico became the first fresh produce brand to broadcast an ad during the Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1 during the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.