9-7 AM Live Ag Report

FRESNO, Calif.

The fish grow at twice the speed of their natural counterparts. The FDA says the altered salmon are safe to eat and has "no biologically relevant differences" in vitamins, minerals or fatty acids.

It's holding a public meeting later this month on the DNA altered fish.

A coalition of 31 consumer, animal welfare, environmental and fisheries groups is opposed to using the salmon for food production. They argue some of the fish have high levels of growth hormone in their bloodstream, which could create a cancer risk.

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This year has been one of the most successful seasons for California navel oranges.

Capitol Press reports, nearly 81-million cartons of navel oranges were produced in the past year, surpassing last year's mark of 64-million cartons. A spokesperson for California citrus mutual says growers were able to use about 84-percent of the crop that came off the trees as fresh fruit. Between 18 million and 19-million cartons were exported.

The picking and shipping of navels usually wrap up around the first of July, but this year, some growers were still moving fruit through the end of the month.

Growers expect a slightly larger yield in 2010-11, although official estimates won't be out for a few more weeks.

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Tuesday, Governor Schwarzenegger will stop by a Sacramento supermarket to let everyone know California eggs are safe to eat.

More than 500-million Iowa-produced eggs are being recalled across the country because of salmonella. But California eggs are safe.

Experts say for over a decade, California has had an egg quality assurance program. The California farmer website reports, our state has the country's most stringent quality control program for eggs.

California requires five salmonella tests while the FDA only requires three. California egg farmers can only get chicks and pullets from hatcheries participating in the national poultry improvement plan to prevent salmonella, and birds are tested regularly throughout their life span beginning at 14 to 16 weeks

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A Central Valley church group is showing how faith and farming go hand in hand.

30,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from the Central Valley spent Labor Day harvesting raisins at a church farm in Madera. The raisins are given to people in need here in the valley and around the world.

Anytime you hear of an earthquake, a flood or tsunami, whatever, I guarantee you some of our produce, our commodities, are sent there," said Church Farm Manager Jamie Hansen.

The church farm has been in operation for 30 years.

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