The Sholl Group II Inc., the Minnesota-based marketer of selected "Green Giant Fresh" produce products, is expanding the brand through a partnership with Gourmet Trading Co., based in Los Angeles. The alliance will involve growing, packing, shipping and marketing "Green Giant Fresh" branded asparagus. "Our partnership with Gourmet Trading Company is a natural fit, and we are very excited about partnering with Gourmet Trading, a company that shares our commitment to quality and customer service," Darci Eckermann, senior vice president of The Sholl Group, said in a press release. Chris Martin

Prolonged and heavy rains in Southern California have tightened strawberry supplies, resulting in a soaring berry market that may continue into the Easter pull. Rain is not unexpected during the winter in the strawberry-growing districts of Southern California. In fact, most years there are some periods when the harvest is disrupted temporarily by rainfall and it takes a few days to get back to full production. This year during the latter part of January, however, the rains have been particularly heavy, especially in Oxnard, where the majority of California strawberries are grown. The Southern

Naturipe Farms, a nationwide grower and marketer of berries, has added industry veterans Don Harris and Robert Verloop to its senior management team. Company President Bruce Peterson announced that Mr. Harris is joining the company effective Feb. 4 as director of procurement and wholesale sales, a new position that leverages Mr. Harris' extensive experience on the buying side of the equation. Mr. Harris has more than 30 years of experience in the retail sector and most recently was director of procurement for Wild Oats. He was also with Safeway for many years. "Don will be responsible for all

The Produce for Better Health Foundation, the American Heart Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other organizations and agencies, including virtually all fruit and vegetable commodity boards, have been working for years to get the word out about the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables. Yet in spite of that effort, and despite the fact that most people have at least some realization that fruits and vegetables are good for them, per-capita consumption of fruits and vegetables remains woefully short of PBH's target. It is now less than half of what is considered

WASHINGTON -- While lawmakers continue to wrestle over the 2007 farm bill and the produce industry lies in wait, the Senate approved former North Dakota Gov. Edward Schafer to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The former two-term Republican governor was quickly and unanimously approved by the Senate, and hours later took his seat along side other Cabinet heads at the State of the Union speech Jan. 28 in Washington. But the question remains what role the newly minted secretary will play in farm bill negotiations as Congress continues to hammer out a deal on a bill President Bush has

Glennville, GA-based Bland Farms has increased its presence in key onion- growing areas and is now poised for future growth. "Bland Farms has a strategy in place that will enable us to grow and expand in many directions in the coming future," said Michael Hively, chief financial officer and general manager of the firm. "We recently broke ground on a new facility in Donna, Texas, near McAllen. It is 100,000 square feet and will have cooler space for 3,200 pallets. It will be used for storing and moving onions and custom-packing other commodities." The Donna operation will offer in-and-out