Steve Grinstead, president and chief executive officer of Monterey, CA-based Pro*Act, has partnered with others to launch National Distribution Group LLC, a newly formed Dallas-based holding company whose primary focus is to acquire or start up regional produce distribution companies. Pro*Act is a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry. Mr. Grinstead told The Produce News that he will retain his role with Pro*Act while adding the titles of president and CEO of NDG. Mr. Grinstead said that he would be spending a good deal of time in the Dallas area. Though Pro*Act and NDG

WASHINGTON -- In a last-ditch effort to shine a light on the issue before Congress returns home to campaign, Sens. Larry Craig (R-ID) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) urged the Republican leadership not to pass tough border enforcement legislation without responding to farmers reeling from farm labor shortages and crop losses. In a Sept. 22 letter to Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), the two senators recounted the impact that stepped-up border controls was having on the agriculture industry in California and other states, and urged the leaders not to ignore agriculture. California's

WASHINGTON -- With the investigation narrowed to one fresh spinach processor, the Food & Drug Administration announced Sept. 29 that it cleared spinach for sale with the exception of bags that were part of several recalls. All spinach implicated in the current outbreak has been traced back to Natural Selection Foods LLC of San Juan Bautista, CA, said FDA. The agency gave new advice to retailers and foodservice companies not to sell raw spinach or blends that may contain spinach processed by Natural Selection Foods and other brands involved in the recall. Health authorities have collected 10

Black River Produce in North Springfield, VT, has joined Nashville-based Produce Alliance, a leading produce management group dedicated to marketing high-quality goods and services in the produce sector. In a press release, Steve Birge, co-founder of Black River Produce, said, "We partnered with Produce Alliance because of its purchasing power. With close to $1 billion in sales revenue, we have the strength in numbers to supply our customers with the highest-quality product available at competitive prices." Mark Curran, the other co-founder of Black River Produce, added in the release,

In a program quite similar to last year, the 2006 National Apple Month retail display contest got underway Sept. 1 and will run through the end of November. The contest is open to all retailers in the United States as well as to all military commissaries in this country and abroad, according to NAM Director Kay Rentzel. Sponsors for the program, conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Apple Association, are T. Marzetti, with its well-known Caramel Apple Dips and Apple Crisp, and the National Peanut Board, which represents the domestic peanut industry. Products from T. Marzetti and those of

Daniel Peyton McClure, president and chief operating officer of West Coast Tomato Inc. and McClure Farms in Palmetto, FL, died Sept. 23 at his home in Bradenton, FL, after a battle with liver cancer. He was 80 years old. A lifetime resident of Manatee County, he was born Feb. 8, 1926 in Palmetto to Versenoia Thomas McClure and John Niel McClure Sr. He graduated from Palmetto High School and the University of Florida, where he received a degree in finance and economics. He served in the U.S. Navy. Mr. McClure was past president and director of the Florida Tomato Exchange and chairman of the