Santa Maria, CA-based Bab? Farms Inc. and Phillip Moreland, the company?s vice president of sales and marketing, have come to an amicable parting as of Feb. 1.

Greg Pedigo, president of Bab? Farms, told The Produce News Feb. 7, that he and Mr. Moreland mutually agreed to the split. "It wasn?t the right fit," Mr. Pedigo said. "I consider him a friend and would recommend him [for employment]."

Mike Browne, president, CEO and founding partner of Fresh Directions International in Ventura, CA, is no longer part of the company?s management, but he retains his 25 percent interest in the business, according to Manuel Castillo Jr., the son of the majority partner who is "helping out through the transition? until a replacement is named.

The Florida tomato industry has launched a campaign designed to reach consumers with the message that there is no shortage of tomatoes from the Sunshine State.

The effort includes participation from virtually every segment of the tomato industry " from suppliers to trade associations to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and even to retailers.

Why people might think there is a shortage " and a subsequent increase in retail prices " is due to a chain of events that has occurred over the past six months.

?Two to three years ago, Wal-Mart executives decided they wanted to grow their cut-flower and bouquet business," said Jennifer Springer, merchandising manager for Wal-Mart?s national floral program.

The company recognized that the grocery portion of its chain was where the floral was best placed.

Wal-Mart placed its focus on cash-and-carry cut flowers, and set goals to deliver the best value to its customers with the highest-quality flowers at the best-possible price.

The Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, headquartered in Walla Walla, WA, recently debuted a new-and-improved web site (www.sweetonion.org) that provides consumer information, links to shippers? web sites, a recipe database and a historical look at the region?s most famed onion.

According to Kathy Fry, director of marketing for the committee, the site not only looks different but it also "allows visitors to access information more easily."