Produce

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced the Texas Department of Agriculture is seeking proposals for projects designed to raise awareness and consumption of such specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts and nursery plants. A total of $1.7 million in federal funds is available through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The deadline for submitting proposals is Feb. 23, 2012. …

NAYA Imports based out of Budd Lake, NJ specializes in wholesale distribution of Middle Eastern Medjool and Deglet Noor dates. We are pleased to announce the arrival of new crop from the 2011 Harvest Season! …

Santa Cruz County growers cut use of ozone-depleting methyl bromide by more than half and pesticides overall by 35 percent between 2009 and 2010. The decline came as the state saw a 9.5 percent uptick in pesticide use after a four-year decline, according to figures released Wednesday by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. …

A man from St. Louis County is the second person to seek damages from Schnucks after falling ill during an E. coli outbreak linked to lettuce sold at local stores, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in circuit court.
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Think super-duos: Fred and Ginger. Sand and surf. Ebony and ivory. Now add a new one: oatmeal and summer-fresh blueberries from Chile, the super-food combination that the Chilean Blueberry Committee, along with expert nutritionists, say packs the flavor and nutrition punch to help anyone fulfill their resolution to eat healthier in the new year. …