WASHINGTON -- The produce industry on July 15 plans to fight back against an often quoted environmental group's "Dirty Dozen" list of the top pesticide- laced produce by releasing its own analysis of the group's handy shopping list.

The Alliance for Food & Farming, a non-profit group of farmers headquartered in Watsonville, CA, commissioned Exponent, a consulting firm, to analyze the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door." What? Change the mousetrap? Change is good, but will a better trap catch more mice? Maybe it will and maybe it won't.

Colorado has a story to tell and product to sell when it comes to fresh produce.

Tim Larsen, senior international marketing specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, said that the story is both old and impressive. "If you look at historical markers around Camp Hale, that was a spinach- producing area early on," he told The Produce News.

Ontario field produce growers have seen their crops planted and harvested a week to in some cases 10 days earlier than normal, and according to Brian Gilroy, chairman of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association, that makes this year's deal one for the history books.

NOGALES, AZ -- Residents across border communities were reeling after the White House announced a list of requested amendments for an FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill -- amendments that the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas said drastically missed the mark on securing ports of entry across the border.

Specifically, the White House requested funding for 1,000 Border Patrol agents but only 30 Customs & Border Protection officers, the front line of security at the nation's ports of entry.

Fort Pierce, FL-based DNE World Fruit Sales' first 2010 shipment of Australian citrus arrived June 18 at the port of Long Beach, CA, carrying some pleasant surprises.

A heat wave after the Australian trees blossomed caused a bloom drop, and subsequent heavy rains resulted in huge, sweet fruit and a "surprisingly pretty strong crop," Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for DNE, told The Produce News June 28.