Why is it that some companies and organizations cut out their sales representatives just to save a few measly dollars? Then top officers wind up complaining that sales are dragging and usually blame it on a poor economy or other excuses.

The field people I refer to are those who make sales happen out in the trenches. They're the on-the-road company sales representatives and organizational marketing merchandisers. Many are disappearing from the sales scene.

MEDFORD, NJ -- The Philadelphia wholesale produce community met June 3 for the fourth annual Lou Penza Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament at the Medford Village Country Club, here, and while rain throughout the day certainly dampened the course, there were only four no-shows as 76 golfers attended.

Several thousand eastern Oregon acres now planted in dehydrated onions could put pressure on the fresh onion industry following the planned closure of ConAgra Foods Inc.'s Umatilla, OR, dehydrating plant.

However, Don Horneck of Oregon State University's Extension Office in Hermiston, OR, said that because the multifarious food giant has announced it will stand by its contracts this season, any pressure to the fresh market is not likely to be felt until next year.

A June 7 U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filing by Chiquita Brands International in Cincinnati brought to light news that the nation's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, cut its Chiquita banana orders by 33 percent.

Chiquita corporate spokesman Mike Mitchell told The Produce News that the lost business "is not new," with the Wal-Mart business having been lost in December over pricing differences. A new contract went into effect on May 1.

WASHINGTON  After investigating more than 300 cases of cyclospora infections, Florida health officials believe that people got sick from eating fresh basil and have asked the Food & Drug Administration to start tracing the product back to the farm.

Florida officials began seeing a rise in cases of cyclospora infections in April, which triggered the investigation. As of press time, the Florida Department of Health reported 303 laboratory-confirmed cases across 33 counties. Six of those cases were added to the list during the past week.

The 18 newly appointed members of the National Mango Board, established by the federal Mango Promotion, Research & Information Order, have been invited to hold their first meeting in Washington June 14-16.

"The meeting, initially at USDA's headquarters and later at a nearby hotel conference center in the nations capital, will largely consist of a thorough orientation conducted by the staff of USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service," said George Chartier, a public affairs specialist for AMS.