After nearly two decades brokering Northwest produce through her own company, Pat McDonald has, if only temporarily, hung up that hat. Ms. McDonald launched Pacific Marketing International in the Yakima, WA, area 18 years ago and handled a wide variety of items, with a focus on Washington asparagus. In early March Ms. McDonald sold PMI to Rasmussen & Sons, one of the brokerage's two primary asparagus growers. Greg Rasmussen and his wife, Joel, are now sole owners of the farming operation, and the sales and marketing arm has been reorganized as Rasmussen Marketing. As she adjusted to the

WOODBURY, CT -- It sometime seems in today's world that many 20- somethings (and even some 30-somethings) are still finding themselves, still wondering what they want to do when they grow up. Perhaps every generation says this about the one coming up. Then there's Steve Veneziano Jr. Mr. Veneziano started working part time as a produce clerk while he was a sophomore in high school, has worked part time as a cashier and deli clerk at a supermarket, and is currently produce manager at an upscale retailer in Woodbury, CT. He loves fresh produce and hopes to advance to store-level management in

WASHINGTON -- A new policy by the Food & Drug Administration may force fresh-cut processors to conduct costly lot testing for Listeria. The FDA announced in February a new policy that would loosen the zero- tolerance policy for Listeria in some ready-to-eat foods. While food processors hailed the new risk-based policy as a step toward harmonizing with other trading partners, the United Fresh Produce Association said that fresh-cut processors might be hurt by the new draft compliance policy guide. The new FDA policy loosened enforcement standards for ready-to-eat foods that do not support the

Keystone Fruit Marketing, based in Greencastle, PA, has teamed with J. Cowart Farms in Lyons, GA, to market Cowart's "Vidalia Sugar Sweets" sweet onions from the famed Vidalia, GA, onion-growing district. " 'Vidalia's Sugar Sweets' are certified extra sweet because of their low flavor intensity and high levels of sweetness," Jim Cowart of J. Cowart Farms said in a press release. "We are able to do this through incredibly careful cultivation and stringent standards. These onions are extensively tested and certified by National Onion Labs to ensure that consumers get the flavor experience they

PHILADELPHIA -- After seven years of ups and downs with regard to the prospect of building a new wholesale produce market here, it appears that a viable site has been procured and that groundbreaking will occur as early as this summer. Sonny DiCrecchio, general manager of the market, met with The Produce News April 2 for an exclusive interview to detail the plans for the new market. He indicated that Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell would announce in mid- April the final agreement to build a new produce market here, which will have 68 houses operated by 35 businesses, and which will be

WILMINGTON, DE -- The Produce for Better Health Foundation has announced the appointment of Theresa Kaufmann as its new manager of development. "Ms. Kaufmann has served in the fund development area of the foundation for the past two years, and we are very excited to welcome her into this new role," Elizabeth Pivonka, the foundation's president and chief executive officer, said in an April 7 statement. "Her overall skill set, including her outstanding interpersonal skills and commitment to our mission, will continue to be a true asset to us as she moves into this new position." Prior to joining