As of Wednesday, Sept. 5, King City, CA-based Metz Fresh LLC didn't yet know the cause of a salmonella contamination finding that led to the voluntary recall of 8,118 cases of its bagged spinach. Routine testing determined a presumptive positive for salmonella found in a single sample from one of three packinglines of bagged spinach. The presumptive positive test for salmonella on Aug. 24 came after the lot was processed and bagged. All the spinach in question was grown in southern Monterey County by Metz Fresh and packed in Moss Landing, CA, by Watsonville Produce Inc., said Metz Fresh

WASHINGTON -- This year's Washington Public Policy Conference could not come at a better time for members of the United Fresh Produce Association, as Congress is knee-deep in critical issues that are slated for decisive votes in the coming weeks. "Conference attendees will be talking to members of Congress and staffers at a critical time," Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, said in referring to the Sept. 11-14 meeting. "Fruits and vegetables are very close to being allowed into the WIC program, Congress is proposing food-safety legislation, immigration reform is

Peter R. Macrie Sr., a lifelong resident of Hammonton, NJ, which calls itself the blueberry capital of the world, died Aug. 28 at his home in Hammonton at the age of 76. He had suffered from heart problems and Alzheimer's disease for the past few years, according to his son, Peter R. Macrie Jr. Peter Robert Macrie Sr. was born May 7, 1931 in Hammonton, where he graduated from high school in 1949. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he spent four years, including service in Geneva, NY, during the Korean War. He and his brother, Paul (Ginger) Macrie, bought a blueberry farm in

California cherry industry veteran Francis James (Jim) Chinchiolo died Aug. 25 in Stockton, CA, after a lengthy illness. He was 86 years old. Born and raised in Stockton, Mr. Chinchiolo was a walnut and cherry grower as well as a longtime owner-partner and sales representative for Chinchiolo Fruit Co. He is best remembered for his efforts to help open the Japanese market to California cherry exports. Mr. Chinchiolo attended the College of the Pacific after graduating from Stockton High School. He then served a year in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon concluding his military service in

The Dispute Resolution Corp.'s Mexican affiliate closed its doors Friday, Aug. 31, largely because of a lack of participation by the Mexican buyer community. DRC President Stephen Whitney and Chairman of the Board Matt McInerney of Western Growers Association told The Produce News that after a five-year membership drive, there simply were not enough members in Mexico to sustain an office. The 40 members that are in good standing will continue to be served by the DRC office in Ottawa, ON, as is the case with their U.S. and Canadian counterparts. They can avail themselves of all DRC services in

SUN VALLEY, ID -- As a wildfire raged just a few miles from the site of the Idaho Grower-Shipper Association's 79th annual meeting, held here Aug. 29-31, members of the Idaho potato industry tackled their own hot topics and explored ways to better manage and promote the state's most important produce crop. The 72-square-mile fire, which started Aug. 16 as the result of a lightning strike, forced the evacuation of about 2,500 homes in the Ketchum area just a mile down the road from the Sun Valley Lodge and Inn, where the industry gathered to hear forecasts of the 2007-08 Idaho potato season. In