WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to delay collection of new inspection fees for Canadian shipments coming across the U.S. border, but Canadian authorities are still pressing for the rule to be withdrawn. Starting Nov. 24, USDA had planned to begin collecting user fees to step up inspections of Canadian fruits and vegetables, commercial vessels, trucks, railroad cars and aircraft. The rule was written, said USDA, to counteract a growing threat of invasive pests and diseases from Canadian shipments, particularly those originating in other countries that are shipped

PLANT CITY, FL -- The Florida Strawberry Growers Association announced that Charles F. (Chip) Hinton's employment as executive director of the association has been discontinued effective Nov. 30, 2006, and that an effort is currently underway to locate a qualified replacement. In the interim, Erin Best, member services director for the association, has been named acting executive director. Mr. Hinton has been the association's only executive director, and during his tenure over the last 24 years, he accomplished much for the association and its members. With current and future challenges

PHILADELPHIA -- Pennsylvania Sen. Michael Stack was named the recipient of the annual Friend of Chile Award at a Nov. 16 luncheon at the Hyatt Hotel, here. The luncheon was attended by nearly 200 industry members and was presented by the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. The hotel ballroom appropriately overlooked the Delaware River, which last season received more than 60 percent of the fresh Chilean fruit exported to the United States. Sen. Stack represents the fifth district of Philadelphia, which includes northeast Philadelphia and also the Tioga Marine Fruit

Salinas, CA-based strawberry grower-shipper Blazer Wilkinson LP recently completed construction of a new 25,000-square-foot distribution center in Easton, MD, that will provide overnight shipping to customers up and down the Eastern Seaboard and as far west as Indiana. Blazer Wilkinson's sister company -- Blazer Wilkinson Salins LLC -- is the Maryland-based distribution arm of the business for the East Coast, and it is overseen by Lee Salins, general manager and partner. Mr. Salins buys product from Blazer Wilkinson as well as other suppliers. Blazer Wilkinson handles its own western sales and

Produce Alliance, headquartered in Nashville, TN, has added Creation Gardens to its membership. "Creation Gardens is a very unique company that has been bringing outstanding quality and value to its customers over the past nine years," Russ Wingo, director of sales and marketing for Produce Alliance, said in a statement. "Creation Gardens cares about a customer's needs. They have proven that they will do whatever it takes to make the customer satisfied with their service. They are a great match for Produce Alliance." "We are impressed with their attention to the customer," Joe Collier

Western Growers Association has responded to requests from buyers and others for a plan to improve food safety and has publicly outlined the actions the association and its members are taking with regard to food safety concerns. Shortly after the Produce Marketing Association convention in San Diego in October, a short list of major foodservice and retail buyers specifically asked WGA, PMA and United Fresh Produce Association to address the food safety issue immediately and take action on a short timetable. The buyer letter asked that a new food safety plan be in place by Dec. 15 and that the