WASHINGTON -- With the Senate yet to mark up a farm bill, the resignation of the secretary of agriculture and President Bush threatening a veto, new funding for specialty crop programs in a 2007 farm bill remains uncertain. Reaction was mixed on the timing of former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns' departure for the Senate seat in Nebraska vacated by retiring Republican Chuck Hagel. "Secretary Johanns has been a powerful advocate for farming in this country and for farm bill reform," said California Department of Food & Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura. "He has been a tremendous friend

The Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association have announced that the organizations are ending any further discussion of potential merger at this time, but will continue to cooperate in areas of mutual interest to each association's members. A joint exploratory group of six board members from each association met together twice in the last six months -- in March and July -- to explore potential areas of common interest and collaboration. During those meetings, the two groups expressed a variety of views on the potential value of merger or some formal structural

Tony Bishop, who recently retired as an account manager from Yakima, WA- based Domex Superfresh Growers, said it's not often that people are able to do what they love and love what they do. But Mr. Bishop said that he has been one of the lucky ones, having invested the work of a lifetime in the field of agriculture. Domex Superfresh Growers threw a retirement bash for Mr. Bishop on Aug. 10, and it was one he will never forget. "They threw an unbelievable party for me," he said. The company even brought in some of Mr. Bishop's clients for a final farewell. "I just discovered a real love of

The California Department of Food & Agriculture has established a 114- square-mile quarantine zone in California's Solano County in the Dixon area following the detection of a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation. As of Sept. 19, 13 wild Medflies and larvae had been detected in the area. This is the first Medfly infestation in the Central Valley since the early 1980s. The Medfly can infest more than 260 types of fruits and vegetables, causing severe damage to California agricultural exports and backyard gardens. A permanent infestation would result in estimated annual losses of $1.3 billion to

Herb Breen, whose nearly 30-year career in the produce industry has included senior management positions at such companies as AmeriFresh, Food Services of America and Del Monte Fresh, has joined West Pac Avocado Inc. in Temecula, CA, where he will be charged with directing all sales for the company, according to Vice President Galen Newhouse. Mr. Breen was scheduled to start the new job on Monday, Sept. 24, Mr. Newhouse told The Produce News. Randy Shoup, president of West Pak, said in a written statement that he is looking forward to "this new collaboration." West Pak has had "a long and

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently issued a proclamation backing Salute to Agriculture 2007, the three-day series of events that draws attention to the Salinas Valley's agriculture industry. The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce coordinated the series, which ran from Sept. 12 through Sept. 14. On Sept. 12, Spreckels, CA-based Tanimura & Antle hosted a wine-pairing dinner prepared by Chef Don Ferch that featured wines from the county's newest viticulture area: the San Antonio Valley. On Sept. 13, the chamber presented Joe Pezzini, vice president of operations for Castroville, CA