SALINAS, CA -- Rumors about the financial health of Mills Family Farms have been circulating for months, and the firm is currently working on restructuring its businesses, according to a well-known public relations figure recently retained by the company. "There are a number of discussions that are taking place daily" in an effort to resolve Mills' problems, said David Armanasco, a recognized public relations figure in Monterey County. In addition to its farming operations, Mills has substantial real estate holdings in the Monterey area. Mr. Armanasco said that several years of low markets in

Two produce trade groups teamed up June 24 to host a webinar in an attempt to clear up some of the confusion about the upcoming country-of-origin labeling law due to go into effect later this fall. In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release the latest interpretation of the just-passed farm bill with the much-favored labeling changes. Before that, buyers and sellers of fresh produce must prepare packaging and signage to comply with the Sept. 30 deadline for country-of- origin labeling. "We understand the industry doesn't have enough time to prepare. It's not the best

WASHINGTON -- The Salmonella outbreak investigation that has fingered tomatoes for a month just took an unusual turn when federal health officials acknowledged that they are "expanding the investigation" to other produce items commonly served with tomatoes. Over the weekend of June 28-29, federal health officials agreed to take a new tact after some people who ate at a common restaurant and became ill did not recall eating tomatoes. Combined with the fact that new cases were reported as of June 20 and that the traceback is not converging on a single tomato source or a single distribution point

Vancouver, BC-based spud! has moved onto the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market. The company -- which claims to be North America's largest on-line organic home grocer -- acquired Organic Express and moved into the space Organic Express occupied on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market. Organic Express had been making deliveries of fresh organic produce to homes and offices since 1995. As a home deliverer of 100 percent certified- organic produce and groceries, the company easily was the largest in its niche in the San Francisco Bay area. "We are taking the best of what they did," said

The Idaho Potato Commission had one thing in mind when it launched its 2007 retail ad campaign: to show retailers the power of stocking Idaho potatoes. Not only did it accomplish that, but the comic book-inspired ads it used received accolades for being among the best in the industry. The ad campaign won numerous awards from the National Agri-Marketing Association and the Idaho Advertising Federation, beating out well-known campaigns like the National Pork Board's "The Other White Meat." The playful ads launched in September and mixed comic book nostalgia with the power of the "Famous Idaho

Pro*Act announced at the end of June that NLaws Produce in Savannah, GA, has joined the company's distribution network. NLaws Produce, a family-owned company, was founded by Steve Kaplan and Jay Epstein, friends and brothers in-law who have a combined 57 years of produce distribution experience. Located on the Georgia State Farmer's Market, operations are set to expand July 1 into neighboring space, giving the firm 35,000 square feet of operations. The facility boasts a refrigerated receiving dock and a superior third-party sanitation and security rating. NLaws distributes over 400 items