Railex LLC is riding the rails of success. With diesel fuel prices at an all-time high and no relief in sight, the firm, a division of ADS Management LLC, is in the midst of building a new, state-of- the-art, freight-forward distribution terminal in Delano, CA. Railex currently has facilities in Wallula, WA, and Rotterdam, NY. Paul Esposito, senior vice president of sales and logistics for Railex, told The Produce News May 7 that the firm "was excited about the expansion," which it expects to have ready for operation by early fall, and that it will offer guaranteed five-day service between

Eric Schwartz has joined Monterey, CA-based SK Foods as vice president of corporate strategic planning for the international tomato and vegetable processing firm. In addition, Mr. Schwartz will oversee the business operations of Salyer American Fresh Foods and SK Frozen Foods. SK Foods is an international processor of tomato and vegetable products -- organic and conventional -- for re-manufacturers and foodservice marketers. The broad role suits Mr. Schwartz, 49, who most recently was president of Dole Fresh Vegetables in nearby Salinas, CA, a division of Dole Food Co. Inc. He resigned from

LAS VEGAS, NV -- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer believes that Congress will pass a "bloated" and "pork-barrel"-laden farm bill that will be vetoed by President Bush, with that veto overridden by Congress, whose members want that bill to pass for the purpose of touting it during upcoming re-election campaigns. Secretary Schafer expressed his opinions during a general business session at the United Fresh Produce Association convention here Tuesday, May 7, and at a press conference following that keynote address. While making his formal comments, he said that the farm bill conferees for

After several decades of working in the food and wine industry, Frank McCarthy has decided to retire in July at age 65. Mr. McCarthy will walk away from his role as vice president of marketing for Albert's Organics at its Dayville, CT, location, a role he has held for the past four-and-a-half years. He is also director of brand positioning for United Natural Foods Inc., which owns Bridgeport, NJ-based Albert's Organics Inc. Mr. McCarthy was a brand manager at the Kraft Foods division of General Foods International for 10 years before moving on to a role in the wine industry. Following that

Martin Streef loved nature. About five years ago, Mr. Streef, an avid hunter and fisherman, was diagnosed with terminal adrenal cancer, and soon after, he put several thousand rainbow trout in a deep-water pond at one of Streef Produce Ltd.'s farms, which he operated with his four brothers, Peter, John, Albert and Jacob, and where he served as president. "We lost a bunch of them that first year and then he put in a few thousand more, so now the pond is full of rainbow trout again," his brother Peter told The Produce News. "We said to him, 'Martin what are you doing?' It was our expense, not

LAS VEGAS, NV -- With commercial production slated to kick off in late 2008 and first shipments leaving Mexican hothouses in January 2009, the driving forces behind the "Intense Tomato" are betting on solid reception on multiple market levels. Additionally, new varieties of colored carrots are making their way into produce departments. Both crops are from seed developed by Nunhems and are part of the program at the global company's Parma, ID, facility. Noting that seed for the Roma-type tomato was more than 20 years in development, Nunhems Crop Sales Manager Jeff Boettge told The Produce News