WASHINGTON -- Short on funds to pay for implementing the new country- of-origin labeling program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to reach over and grab $3 million from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to cover the shortfall. But specialty crop producers are trying to put the brakes on the deal by alerting members of Congress. USDA is operating under a Continuing Resolution, a short-stop funding measure, and with money tight, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer had to choose among eliminating a program, not implementing COOL or using a "small portion" of specialty crop

Carl Adams Jr. of Adams Produce Co. in Birmingham, AL, died Jan. 10 at the age of 91. Born April 11, 1917 in Birmingham, Mr. Adams was married to his beloved wife, Betty Bryding DeVore, for 61 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama in 1938 and went on to serve during World War II in the European theater, where he earned the Bronze Star. After the war, Mr. Adams returned to Birmingham and his family's business, Adams Bros. Produce Inc. He became president and treasurer of the company in 1964 and served in that capacity until his

J.C. Clinard knew early in life that his career would follow a path similar to that of his father, mother and grandfather. Today, at age 29, that's exactly the path he's on. "My grandfather, Thomas P. (Buck) Clinard, managed a fresh citrus packinghouse in Lake Placid [FL] until he retired," said Mr. Clinard, who is chief financial officer of Wishnatzki Farms in Plant City, FL. "While my dad, Jim Clinard, is in banking, he also owns and operates 100-plus acres of citrus groves. My mother, Terry Lynn Youngblood, owns and operates two acres of blueberries. I was exposed to and have worked in

Bifulco's Four Seasons Cold Storage Inc., based in Pittsgrove, NJ, has received a 'superior' rating after a recent audit by PrimusLabs. "I was very pleased when our facility received 96, a 'superior' rating, on December 17," Mickey Bifulco, president of Bifulco's Four Seasons Cold Storage, said in a Dec. 29 press release. "Our service is, and always will be, the most important part of our business. We are starting our third year with our 5,000-square-foot forced-air room, where we can precool 84 pallets at one time. This room is becoming a big part of our business from product picked up at

Salyer American Fresh Foods' U.S. customers will soon take receipt of their fresh produce on lightweight, durable, hygienic, all-plastic pallets embedded with radio frequency identification tags. The switch from wood pallets marks a significant technological advancement in Salyer's domestic distribution systems while supporting efforts for environmental sustainability. "Incorporating all-plastic, RFID-tagged pallets into our supply-chain infrastructure brings greater value to our customers from both a food-quality and food-safety perspective in addition to being environmentally responsible,"

Al Murray, New Jersey's assistant secretary of agriculture, was named acting secretary of agriculture as of Jan. 1. Charles M. Kuperus, who had served for seven years as the state's secretary of agriculture, had submitted his resignation Oct. 24 to New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine; that resignation became effective Dec. 31. The state Board of Agriculture, an eight-member body created by statute, which serves as the policy-making entity for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, is responsible for appointing the secretary of agriculture, with the approval of the governor. That board is "still in