Florida Citrus Mutual Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Andy LaVigne announced his resignation from the organization effective Feb. 1 in order to assume the role of president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. "I have been extremely fortunate in my career to have spent the last seven years working for Florida's citrus growers at FCM," Mr. LaVigne said. "While I will miss the relationships I have made, I am very confident that the Mutual board, membership and staff will continue to build on the successes we have enjoyed." FCM President Marty McKenna praised Mr

"The winter is going very well," said Bruce Heeren of Michigan Fresh Marketing LLC in Belding, MI. "Demand has been strong since the start. Apples are holding in storage just fine. The inventory will ship into July, like normal. And the prices, I'd say, are right in line with a year ago or slightly higher on some things. Movement is very good." Mr. Heeren said that his firm has had "different promotions with different customers like any other year. It's been a good season so far. No complaints. Quality has been good. Fruit size is bigger than normal, so it has worked out well. We have no

Capitalizing on its highly diversified agricultural and real estate operations, two of Duda's primary agricultural divisions -- fresh fruits and vegetables and frozen processed vegetables and beverages -- will become wholly owned subsidiaries of the corporation in 2006. Effective Jan. 1, the company's nationwide fresh fruit and vegetable operations merged to become Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. The company's frozen processed vegetable and beverage operations will be consolidated within the first quarter of 2006 as Duda Products Inc. Duda's real estate development division, The Viera Co., has

New York Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers announced his resignation from state service, effective Dec. 11, 2005. Mr. Rudgers has led the department of agriculture and markets since June 1999. "I am blessed to have had the experience of working for Governor Pataki, who has expanded the opportunities for farmers and the agricultural sector in New York," Mr. Rudgers said. "It has been my pleasure to lead a skilled and dedicated team at the department of agriculture and markets." During his tenure, Mr. Rudgers played a critical role in achieving the governor's agricultural priorities in

WILMINGTON, DE -- As Americans began the annual ritual of making new year's resolutions, the pledge to shed pounds is no doubt near the top of the list again this year, but a group dedicated to better health says that most still resolve to do the wrong thing and miss a very simple solution: eat more. "Dieting is not the answer," Dr. Elizabeth Pivonka, president and chief executive officer of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, said in a statement. "Eating more of the things that are good for us and less of those that are not has always been and will always be a better solution."

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced recently plans to purchase up to 6 million pounds of dried fig pieces to be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. In fiscal year 2005, which ended Sept. 30, USDA purchased 5 million pounds of figs. USDA purchased nearly 4.9 million pounds of figs in FY04 and 3.7 million pounds of figs in FY03. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products each year for distribution by USDA's Food & Nutrition Service for the national school lunch program, the school breakfast