Brooks Tropicals has added the title of president to its chief executive officer, Craig Wheeling, who has served in that role for the past 15 years. Mr. Wheeling takes over the position previously held by Pal Brooks, who is also the owner of Brooks Tropicals. Mr. Brooks is now chairman of the board. Mr. Wheeling's family has been farming in Miami-Dade County for 100 years, when the city of Miami was only 13 years old. "My grandparents would have never predicted how farming looks today," said Mr. Wheeling. "And I doubt my grandchildren will be getting any practical insight from me either."

WASHINGTON -- By a 283-to-142 vote, the House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 but only after House Agriculture Committee Republicans tried to send the bill back to committee to make it more farm-friendly. HR 2749 would require the Food & Drug Administrtation to set strong performance standards, create a food traceback system, inspect facilities more frequently and set new controls for imported foods. FDA would add new authority to access records, levy penalties and collect a dedicated source of funding for food safety. "There's nothing [in] this bill that's

Going into the mid-summer months, which is typically when Chinese garlic makes its presence known, reflected in the U.S. f.o.b. price, the U.S. garlic market is strong and should remain so for the foreseeable future. "There is 25-30 percent less garlic in China than there was at this time last year," said John Wang of Canada Garlic Inc. in Toronto. He said that it is a simple case of Chinese garlic growers and shippers not making any money over the past two to three years, so they have reduced their acreage and moved into other vegetable crops where the demand was expected to be stronger

Maxco Supply Inc. in Parlier, CA, has announced the release of its new micro flute tri-wall container, which it said is stronger, lighter and more eco- friendly than other produce containers. Another important characteristic of the new tri-wall configuration is the smooth exterior created by using micro flutes. These micro flutes virtually eliminate flute lines, allowing for cleaner, brighter graphics and printing. This will allow for even better-looking packaging to grab consumers' attention. "We have produced prototype containers that exceed 5,000 pounds top to bottom," Joe Sepe, general

You see a sign in the produce department on a display reading, "Homegrown Sweet Corn." What immediately enters your mind? The corn must taste great, having just been picked from a nearby farm. The word "homegrown" influences your brain, which selects, organizes and deciphers the information from the sign and develops a meaning. That particular meaning results in a certain psychological feeling. It's all part of perception. When you enter a place of business such as a retail store, an office, a warehouse or a farm, what does your brain focus on immediately? It's usually something that stands

The 2009 grape harvest in California's San Joaquin Valley, home to the preponderance of fresh-market grape vineyards in the United States, got off to a faster-than-expected start, with many shippers saying that their first Flames were ready to harvest with full color, full sugar and good berry size a week or more sooner than anticipated. The phenomenon occurred not just in the traditionally early districts at the southern end of the valley but north through Delano and up into the Reedley and Fresno areas. As is always the case, not everyone had the same experience. Soils, microclimates