WASHINGTON -- The wrestling match between Congress and President Bush on Iraq war funding ended when the president signed the bill May 25 to pay for military operations and the long-awaited $3 billion in emergency disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers. "Producers across the countryside have been struggling for three long years to overcome the devastating effects of weather-related losses," National Farmers Union President Tom Buis said in a statement. "I am thrilled Congress, and now the president, has acted to ensure this much-needed assistance will soon be in the hands of those

In response to a May 18 announcement by Yum! Brands Inc. that it has expanded its tomato deal with a Florida farmworker group to cover all its restaurant chains, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food Restaurants, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange is urging its members to not participate in any labor deal that requires tomato companies to adhere to terms and conditions for its employees set by unaffiliated organizations. "We have received multiple legal opinions, and all have expressed alarm regarding the legalities involved in these types of deals,"

Progreso Produce in Boerne, TX, a leading grower-shipper in the Texas/ Mexico import corridor, has hired Sandy Watts as its new general manager. Mr. Watts comes to Progreso with 25 years of experience in the produce industry, having worked in both Florida and Texas with direct experience in citrus, melons and Mexican imports. Curtis DeBerry, president of Progreso Produce, said of Mr. Watts' hiring, "Sandy's experience in management, sales and grower relations is a perfect fit for our business. His produce history allows him to jump right in and lead our organization, challenging us to make

B.C. Hot House and Greenhouse Produce Co. LLC recently merged to form a consolidated company, Pan American Foods LLC. A May 18 announcement indicated that the new operation would be headed by President Brian Beggs of B.C. Hot House and Vice President Fried De Schouwer of Greenhouse Produce. Mr. De Schouwer will handle sales and marketing, which will be done under the "B.C. Hot House" brand. "New in name only, Pan American Foods LLC merges two greenhouse industry leaders, bringing together over 30 years of growing and marketing experience," the announcement stated. B.C. Hot House, based in

"I'm the world's worst consultant," joked former Wal-Mart produce and perishables executive Bruce Peterson. "Ninety percent of the people I have talked to, I have convinced them that they don't need me." Mr. Peterson grew up with the produce department at Wal-Mart, having been hired in the early 1990s as head of that department when the nation's largest general merchandise chain had only four supercenters, which offer a full line of fruits and vegetables. He helped shepherd the company through an unprecedented growth cycle that now includes thousands of supercenters and the well-deserved

Former Wal-Mart executive Bruce Peterson is launching a trace-back initiative with fellow consultant Michael McCartney as one of the initial projects in his post-Wal-Mart career. Mr. Peterson said that within 30 days he expects to have a further announcement that will shed more light on both the funding and scope of the project. "Right now, [the funding] is not that important. I'm lucky that I can work on something I really enjoy," he said. A press release announcing the initiative said that the collaborative venture's "first mission will be establishing a global traceability approach for the