It is early yet, but all indicators are that the just-begun Texas citrus season has the potential to be among the better ones in several years.

Granted, most citrus seasons in Texas are good. But this one may be even better. Texas citrus generates about $150 million in annual revenues, and all production is in the Rio Grande Valley.

Columbia Marketing International, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, has a lot to talk about at this year's Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit event. "Our presentations will be very visual," Marketing Manager Brett Burdsal told The Produce News. “There’s a lot of material for retailers.”

In addition to Mr. Burdsal, CMI will be represented at its booth (No. 5234) by Bob Mast, vice president of marketing, and Linda McFarland.

FirstFruits Marketing in Yakima, WA, and its growers are kicking off the fall apple season by giving back with the Take A Bite Out of Hunger campaign that aims to donate 1 million apples to food banks throughout the United States.

Ocean Mist Farms is partnering with Sony this fall to promote the release of the movie "Eat Pray Love" on DVD.

The retail offer includes an instant-redeemable coupon for $3 off a purchase of Sony's “Eat Pray Love” movie on DVD with the purchase of an Ocean Mist Farms artichoke.

From Nov. 30 through Dec. 31, more than 3,000 IRCs will be affixed to bulk artichokes sold nationwide at retailers carrying Ocean Mist Farms artichokes. The target market for the movie is females, 18 and older, which relates to the profile of an artichoke consumer.

WASHINGTON — Legislation to revamp the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's food-safety programs and to improve school lunches are just two issues Congress will be debating when it returns Nov. 15 after mid-term elections.

But these bills — top-shelf issues for the produce industry — will have to compete with more than a dozen other legislative priorities for floor time during what could be a polarized lame-duck session that may follow a power-shift to a Republican-controlled Congress.

As Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, prepared for the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention, the company was coming off one of its finer Vidalia, GA, onion seasons ever and was well into its fall program featuring Peruvian sweet onions, "Empire Sweets" from New York state and sweet onions from Utah.