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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

Aguacateros Integrados de Michoacan, an avocado growing, packing and marketing organization headquartered in Michoacan, Mexico, produces some 10 million pounds of avocados a year in "certified orchards," according to a written company profile. Of that amount, 15 percent is sold in the national market in Mexico and 80 percent is exported to the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Central America.