WASHINGTON -- Growers expressed frustration about the worsening labor crisis at an Oct. 4 hearing as a congressional committee looked at the labor needs of American agriculture. "While some issues change, depending on the region, in every part of the country where I've traveled, the topic of labor always comes up, and it is usually followed by the word "crisis,'" said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). "This is a major problem for producers, and sooner or later, we must find a way to address it." The hearing, which was requested by Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL), came after

Keith Wilson, vice president of sales and marketing for Sunny Cove Citrus LLC in Orange Cove, CA, has announced the hiring of Selina Brown as foodservice sales manager. Ms. Brown was previously with HMC Marketing in Kingsburg, CA. "We welcome Selina to our team and look forward to having her represent us with the customers that she has dealt with for many years," Mr. Wilson said. "We are just very happy have her on board and think she is going to bring a nice diversification to the different types of customers we hope to contact as we go forward." Ms. Brown's foodservice background "should

Riding on their positioning with retailers as quality potato producers, Colorado growers have expanded their focus with a new program dubbed Potato Excellence Training, or PET. This educational initiative integrates every aspect of the San Luis Valley's potato-growing operations, from grower to shipper to the chain headquarters and local stores. "We've already been told by our customers that our quality is superior," said Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Executive Director Jim Ehrlich. "Now our PET project will illustrate the exact steps that we and our retail partners already take and

Maxco Supply, a provider of fresh produce packaging and packaging machinery based in Parlier, CA, has received export certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for one of its newest sustainable corrugated containers. Maxco's Long Term Storage system for table grapes has been approved by the USDA for export to the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, according to a company press release. The LTS system is a sustainable packaging alternative to expanded polystyrene or hard plastic containers. Reflecting Maxco's commitment to sustainability, the LTS maximizes the use of

Monterey, CA-based Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry, has appointed Robert Kiehnle as chief financial officer. Mr. Kiehnle brings more than 25 years of financial management experience to Pro*Act. Most recently, he was a partner in the Dallas practice of Tatum LLC, a nationwide professional service firm, where he provided interim executive and consulting services to a variety of clients in a multitude of industries. He will work out of Pro*Act's office in Dallas and will lead the strategic financial direction of Pro*Act and Pro*Act Specialties. Previously, Mr

This fall, The Oppenheimer Group will once again present its signature Asian pear -- the Tottori 20th Century variety from Japan -- to customers throughout the United States. "The new crop is a beauty -- it's larger in volume but smaller in fruit size," David Nelley, pipfruit category director for the Vancouver, BC-based marketer, said in a statement. "Remarkably, each fruit is pollinated by hand. The growing season has been excellent, and from what I've tasted, Asian pear aficionados across the U.S. are in for a real treat." Mr. Nelley, who recently returned from a preseason visit to Japan's