MONTEREY, CA -- It is a given these days that foodservice operators and distributors expect their suppliers to have third-party audited food-safety programs in place, according to several of the participants in a food-safety panel Saturday, July 25, at the Produce Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference & Exposition, here.

HARTFORD, CT -- To help celebrate National Farmers' Market Week (Aug. 2- 8), Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture F. Philip Prelli invited residents of the state to join him in participating in the first CT Grown Challenge.

Ocean Mist Farms, based in Castroville, CA, has pledged $50,000 to the Produce Marketing Association Foundation for Industry Talent. This funding will support programs designed to broaden awareness about the rewards and opportunities of a career in the produce industry.

Luciano Fiszman is an expert on blueberries. In fact, the 29-year-old agronomy engineer is the expert on blueberries in Argentina for Los Angeles-headquartered Gourmet Trading Co.

Mr. Fiszman began his produce career in 2001 while still a student at the University of Buenos Aires, where he started as a research assistant. "I became a researcher myself in 2004," he said.

This summer, as consumers are looking for ways to enjoy healthy meals that help stretch the family's grocery budget, Iceberg lettuce can help achieve that goal by offering versatility, value and the "crunch factor" that's a natural for summer dishes.

The California Date Administrative Committee and Bard Valley Medjool Date Growers Association joined forces to commission new research to determine the extent of antioxidants and polyphenols in dates.

Early studies have indicated exceptionally high levels of the compounds, well above those for other fruits, prompting considerable excitement among growers and consumers alike.