WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns did not have good news to share about the prospects of attaching a guest worker reform bill to the 2007 farm bill or when Congress would next find the political fortitude to revisit the issue. Kicking off the United Fresh Produce Association's annual Washington Public Policy Conference on Sept. 13, Secretary Johanns commented on plans to add AgJOBs to the Senate version of the farm bill as a measure to relieve the worsening labor crisis. "I think that's very hard to do, just to be very honest with you. It would be especially difficult if it

Very few people would argue with the desirability of buying locally grown produce in season. But there are those who object so strongly to transporting any foodstuff beyond a minimum arbitrary distance (most commonly 500 miles), mainly owing to the consumption of fossil fuels in transit, that for the sake of the environment, they urge people to eat nothing -- or next to nothing -- that has not been produced close to home. The food-miles concept has been around for a while, particularly in Europe, but it has been getting a great deal of media attention recently in the United States. Most

NAPLES, FL -- What is the Food Network's newest star? Florida tomatoes. Samantha Winters, director of education and promotion for the Florida Tomato Committee, took the wraps off its newest marketing campaign during her presentation at the committee's organizational meeting, part of the 32nd Joint Tomato Conference held here at the Ritz-Carlton Naples. The new campaign, which will run exclusively on the Food Network, will feature three or four, 15-second commercials. One is newly designed and will tout the promotion, and the remaining two or three will be existing commercials that have been

Minneapolis-based C.H. Robinson Co. is introducing a new line of fresh organic products. "Our World Organics" will debut at the 2007 Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention and exposition in Houston. "Our World Organics" not only promotes healthier lifestyles and environmentally friendly products, it supports activities that lead to long- term sustainable agricultural practices aimed at minimizing the impact on the environment, according to a company statement. Over the next several years, C.H. Robinson will utilize its extensive relationships with growers and transportation

Melones Internacional, whose greenhouse vegetables from Sinaloa, Mexico, were formerly packed in the "Chiquita/ABC" brand and marketed through Chiquita Frupac Inc., are now being packed in a new label, "Plain Jane," just launched by the company. Melones Internacional, whose founder and chief operating officer is Alejandro Canelos, has corporate headquarters in Culiacan, Sinaloa, and in Phoenix, AZ. Distribution of the products is handled through Apache Produce Co. Inc. in Nogales, AZ, according to a company fact sheet. Melones was started in 1994 and expanded into cucumbers. "The success of

Widespread media reports are indicating that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns would resign his post to seek an open seat in the Senate from his home state of Nebraska. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) said earlier this month that he would not seek re-election to a third term. Mr. Hagel had apparently met with Mr. Johanns Sept. 18 and encouraged him to run for the seat, according to media reports. Mr. Hagel would not confirm Mr. Johanns' candidacy, but said that the agriculture secretary would make an announcement soon. Mr. Johanns, 57, a former mayor of Lincoln, was first elected governor of