WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued an import alert March 22 regarding entry of cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, because, based on current information, fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada. The import alert advises FDA field offices that all cantaloupes shipped to the United States by this company are to be detained. In addition, the FDA has contacted importers about this action and is advising U.S. grocers, foodservice operators and produce processors

VIDALIA, GA -- The Vidalia Onion Committee will be promoting Georgia's famous sweet onions this year on several fronts. The highest-profile campaign, Fiesta de Flavor, will be conducted with Corona beer and three other produce items. "There will also be a lime, a tomato and an avocado partner," Wendy Brannen, executive director of the VOC. The promotion will focus on Corona's point of sale, where coupon books will be featured in retail beer and wine departments. And the VOC "is also in discussions with the other produce partners to discuss the possibility of secondary displays in the produce

A massive fire the afternoon of March 13 completely gutted the 40,000- square-foot facility of Golden Valley Specialty Mushrooms Ltd., one of North America's larger growers of organic specialty mushrooms in Pitt Meadows, BC, about 25 miles east of Vancouver. Tony Chan, the firm's manager, estimated that the fire, which fortunately spared the company's offices and the family home, which are also located on the property, caused upwards of $1 million in damage to the building that housed its growing area and machinery, effectively putting the company out of commission for the foreseeable future.

Members of the Georgia Senate honored Delbert Bland, president and chief executive officer of Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, Feb. 5 for his significant contributions to the state's economic health and wellbeing. Bland Farms began growing Vidalia onions on five acres in 1982. From those humble roots, growing operations burgeoned over the years beyond the borders of the Peach State and into Utah, Pennsylvania, Colorado, California, Texas and Peru. Sens. Jack Hill and Tommie Williams introduced Senate Resolution 802. "They had called a week ahead of time to ask me to be [in Atlanta]," Mr

NEWARK, DE -- Kathy Means, Produce Marketing Association's vice president of government relations, has been named to serve the 2008-12 term on the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits & Vegetables. Appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, Ms. Means is one of 34 chosen nationally to sit on the committee. The committee provides technical information, advice and recommendations to the secretary of agriculture and the U.S. trade representative on matters specific to produce. The committee is part of the

Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. has hired Kevin Murphy as its senior vice president of supply and operations. Mr. Murphy's responsibilities include production, logistics and distribution, packaging, nursery, quality assurance and food safety. He replaces Al Rodrigues, who retired from this position. Mr. Murphy comes to Driscoll from nearby Capurro Farms, where he served for the last two-and-half years as president. He led the family-owned company through a series of transformations that led to a merger of Capurro Farms with Salinas, CA-based Growers Express. Prior to