Central Washington-based grower Ostrom Mushroom Farms was fined $74,000 in civil penalties for H-2A violations, and the Department of Labor was able to recover $59,000 in back wages for workers, a news release said.

Rijk Zwaan was honored with the top spot, winning Best in Show. Sun Orchards, Califresh and Ocean Mist Farms also took home honors from this year’s IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, Calif.

The draft pest risk assessment for consumption of passion fruit from Vietnam will be available for review and comment until Sept. 9.

During the transition from summer to fall, the California and Peru avocado seasons typically wind down while Mexico’s Flor Loca season ramps up.

Stephanie Bazan, senior vice president of commercial strategy and execution for Avocados From Mexico, said in late July that Mexican volume was leaning heavily toward small fruit.

There are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S., says columnist John Phipps. He thinks it’s a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.