RIVERHEAD, NY -- It's a "Superior" for Fresh from the Start LLC.

Fresh from the Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, earned a "Superior" rating from AIB International for its broccoli growing and shipping operation in Caribou, ME, and the firm expects this year's deal to kick off in mid-July.

Spectators who stopped by the Giant Foods booth at the 2008 American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania June 25 saw the walk-around Cookie Monster and had an opportunity to enter a raffle offering prizes that promoted healthy lifestyles to children.

California Giant, a partner in Sesame Street's Healthy Habits for Life program, has teamed up with Giant Foods in Carlisle, PA, and at its booth, the firm encouraged children to make healthy choices through activities, handouts and an appearance by walk-around Cookie Monster.

"Our Roots Keep us Growing" is the theme at Vancouver, BC-based The Oppenheimer Group this year, as the full-service marketer celebrates its 150th birthday. Among the roots that keep the company thriving, said John Anderson, Oppenheimer's chairman, president and chief executive officer, are its enduring relationships with a global family of growers.

In less than two years, biofuels have gone from promising fossil-fuel alternative to scourge of the planet.

Criticisms surrounding feedstock for biofuels tend to center on two main points of contention: that growing feedstock for biofuel takes good agricultural land out of production, thus leading to escalating food prices and exacerbating global hunger; and that the world's thirst for biofuels has led to deforestation and its attendant problems.

Some U.S. apple professionals engaged in interesting travel abroad in April and May. The New York state Department of Agriculture & Markets in Albany organized a Cuban trade mission that took place April 21-24.

And on May 19-24, a delegation of apple-industry professionals from several states participated in a trade mission to Russia that was organized by the U.S. Apple Export Council.

WASHINGTON -- News that $10 million in specialty crop block grants are in jeopardy caused produce industry trade associations to sound the alarm.