WASHINGTON -- A congressional hearing on the role of traceability in the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak took the first stab at exposing the gaps in the investigation and the damage done to the produce industry. "The poor handling of this outbreak has confused consumers and damaged producers," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), who chaired the July 30 House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing. "You could describe our current food-safety system as 'outbreak roulette.' One spin of the outbreak wheel and your industry may be bankrupt and your loved ones sickened," said Rep. Cardoza. But federal health

The largest wholesale terminal market in the United States sits on the bank of the East River on Hunts Point in New York City, looking across to Riker's Island. The New York City Terminal Produce Co-Operative Market has been at Hunts Point for over 35 years, serving the New York metropolitan area with its ethnically diverse population that is estimated at more than 16 million people. It is estimated that the revenues exceed $1.75 billion annually, which is more than any other produce market in the world. The Hunts Point market receives produce deliveries daily by rail, tractor- trailer and air

CLOVIS, CA -- Pasquale (Pat) Ricchiuti, founder of P-R Farms, here, and father of the company's current president, Patrick Ricchiuti, died Sunday, July 27, in Fresno, CA. He was 88. Mr. Ricchiuti was born Jan. 7, 1920, in Rochester, NY. His family later moved to California and began farming, and as a young man, he began working on the family farm. "Pat loved to work so much that he soon became frustrated during his early teen years because school got in the way of his earning money," according to a written eulogy furnished by the family. While his sisters and many of his friends "were off

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Western Veg-Produce Inc., here, has been involved in buying and selling grapes for around 13 years, and has supplemented that with a small grower deal for about the last four years. But for the 2008 season, Western Veg-Pro will be representing some significant volume from two grape growers. "We had an opportunity to partner with Dan Tudor & Sons in Delano [CA] this year," said David Ollivier, president of Western Veg-Pro. "That will bring us roughly 800,000 to 1 million packages of grapes of all colors [from the Delano area]. It is really going to give us a foothold" with

Two weeks shy of a decade of employment with the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association in Antigo, WI, Mike Carter has become the chief executive officer of association member Bushman's Inc. in Rosholt, WI. Mr. Carter, who had been the executive director of the association, told The Produce News July 25 that the association is conducting a national search to find his replacement. Bushman's owner and president, Mitch Bushman, will allow Mr. Carter to serve on the search committee to find his successor. The CEO position is new at Bushman's, according to Mr. Carter, who joined the firm

Mike Kamphaus has been promoted to vice president of market development for the Eastern region at Supervalu. He will report to Kevin Kemp, Eastern region president for the retail chain. Mr. Kamphaus has extensive experience in the grocery industry with over 20 years in retail management, procurement, category management and sales. He began his career as a manager with Star Market Wholesale in Cambridge, MA, in 1987. He joined Wetterau later that year as a retail produce counselor in Cranston, RI, and relocated to Quincy, FL, as a produce director in 1989. In 1995, Mr. Kamphaus moved to