VISALIA, CA -- In a year when California Citrus Mutual, along with many other farm groups in California, has been fighting drastic reductions in state and federal agricultural water allotments as well as a host of other burdensome regulatory issues that make it increasingly difficult for many farming operations to survive, the Exeter, CA-based organization selected Robin Rivett, president of the Pacific Legal Foundation, as the keynote speaker for its 32nd annual meeting, which was held here Nov. 5.

The Produce Marketing Association is conducting a national search for a person to take over the position recently vacated by Gary Fleming, who was the association's Produce Traceability Initiative point person.

Mr. Fleming, who wore the title of vice president of industry technology and standards, spent his last day on the job Nov. 3 conducting a PTI workshop in Charlotte, NC. He resigned from PMA in mid-October to establish his own consulting firm.

At this year's Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in Anaheim, CA, in October, it was announced that Jack Pandol Sr., chairman emeritus of Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, was to receive the Bernardo O'Higgins Presidential Order of Merit from the Chilean government.

Yuma, AZ, grower-shipper Robby Barkley of Barkley Ag Enterprises was elected chairman of the board of the Western Growers Association at its 84th annual convention held Nov. 9-11 in Las Vegas.

Emerging produce exporters in the Dominican Republic have an initial plan to grow their businesses first by focusing on the New York City market -- and a new office located in the city aims to help them find success.

Tested by Edge Analytical Laboratories in Burlington, WA, Red Wing onions grown by Grigg Farms in Quincy, WA, and marketed by Sweet Clover Produce LLC in Walla Walla, WA, come with a certification that they are free of E. coli and Salmonella pathogens.

According to Lorin Grigg, grower of the famed single-center red, the testing is performed on all 400 acres of Red Wings at his farm.

"They are going to primarily restaurants," Mr. Grigg said of the onions, and he added that a specific customer requested the testing.