CLAYTON, NJ -- Washington, DC, has its cherry blossoms, and Gloucester County in New Jersey has its peach blossoms. As temperatures rise, pretty pink and light red pink blossoms are opening in all their splendor.

Gloucester County is the number one peach-producing county in New Jersey and one of the major ones in the United States. Approximately 4,600 acres of peach trees come alive each April with a variety of small to large showy and non-showy pink blossoms.

WILMINGTON, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association has announced that it is increasing its contribution commitment the to Produce for Better Health Foundation with a $250,000 pledge, paid over the next five years.

"PBH does what no one else is doing on behalf of the entire produce category: they understand and talk to consumers about fruits and vegetables," Bryan Silbermann, PMA's president and chief executive officer, said in an April 7 press release. "We have been long-time supporters of PBH and are proud to increase our support to this $50,000 level."

The powerful Easter Sunday earthquake that rattled homes and buildings in both Mexico and California did do some structural damage -- mostly in Mexicali, Mexico -- but apparently had very limited impact on the fresh produce industry.

The 7.2-magnitude quake was centered about 30 miles south of the border in the Mexicali Valley of Baja California.

Watermelons are not melons.

That is the message that the watermelon industry is trying to convey to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, and it is utilizing the comment period on the FDA's proposed rule for Preventive Controls for Fresh Produce, Docket ID FDA-2010-N-0085, to do so.

A large graphic on the National Watermelon Association web site's home page emphasizes this undertaking, and also provides links to submit comments via a form letter to the FDA as well as to members of Congress.

WATSONVILLE, CA -- California Giant Berry Farms has a new look on its four-pound clamshell labels this year.

The company is testing the item-level traceability program offered by HarvestMark to evaluate the overall system from the field through distribution. This marks the second season the company is working with the HarvestMark program, adding a valuable consumer component to the process.

VANCOUVER, BC -- Fans of organics have El Niño to thank this spring. Favorable weather conditions and efficient growing methods will yield a quality crop mix featuring abundant volumes of tomatoes-on-the-vine from Origin Organic Farms Inc. in Delta, BC, during the Canadian greenhouse season.