California tomato packer-shipper Gonzales Packing Co. in Gonzales, CA, has filed a lawsuit against the California Tomato Commission and its president claiming that the commission is unconstitutional and that Chief Executive Officer Ed Beckman has misappropriated funds. A.G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, is also named in the lawsuit for failing to carry out his oversight duties. The tomato firm has been withholding its assessments for the past year in what a spokesperson said was its effort to gather information on the commission's expenditures. Melanie

Seattle-based Amerifresh -- a leader in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the retail grocery and foodservice industries -- recently held its 12th annual event for sales associates at the Culinary Center of Monterey, the fourth year in a row the event has been held there. Mark Krauter, manager of Amerifresh's Fresno, CA, branch, said that the event is a reward for the company's top produce sales associates. Each year the company invites different vendors to make product presentations. All 80 attendees had personal interaction with the chefs and presenters and sampled the products. This

Shelley Broader, president and chief executive officer of Tampa, FL-based Sweetbay Supermarket, is continuing to leverage her leadership team by announcing several changes. Craig Geer will transition from vice president of merchandising to vice president of store engineering and construction services. "Craig has a natural gift in these areas," Ms. Broader said in a press release. "This new role will allow him to dedicate his entire focus here to contribute a measurable, sustainable impact." In this capacity, Mr. Geer will be responsible for engineering and construction services, refrigeration

Dole Fresh Vegetables Co. has announced its new "Restaurant Ready" asparagus. With foodservice operators seeking a more convenient, value-driven asparagus pack, Dole said it rose to the challenge and created a new product that eliminates both prep time and waste. This new item is hand-selected fresh asparagus -- already cut to a tip form, thoroughly washed and packed in a patent-protected, breathable microwave-ready bag, ready to serve in as little as six minutes. This product is being offered in 1.5-pound and 2.5-pound bags (in 10-count cases) that extend shelf life by six days. Available in

The latest issue in the seemingly unending list of bad news for Florida's once $9 billion-dollar-a-year citrus industry is that about 90 percent of the state's nurseries that grow and nurture young citrus trees may have to close their businesses. Owners of some nurseries say they cannot afford the costs of enclosing and modernizing their greenhouse facilities to meet standards set by officials to ultimately reduce the threat of canker and citrus greening reaching the young plants. Young citrus trees, of course, develop into mature, fruit-producing trees, and so are integral to ensuring the

Global Horizons, a supplier of foreign guest workers, has sued a Delano, CA-based blueberry grower and two labor contractors, claiming that the use of illegal immigrants has resulted in unfair competition. Global Horizons, through its agri-labor division, operates under the H-2A provisions of the U.S. Department of Labor, typically bringing guest workers to the United States from Thailand to work in agriculture and other industrial sectors. It has had some success most notably in Washington and Hawaii, but has not gained much of a foothold in California. The company claims that it signed a