WASHINGTON -- Comedian Stephen Colbert grabbed the headlines Sept. 24 after he testified -- in character -- at a House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on immigrant agricultural workers.

Mr. Colbert was invited to testify by subcommittee Chairman Zoe Lofgren (D- CA), both of whom picked beans and packed corn during a 10-hour stint in upstate New York under the United Farm Workers of America's Take Our Jobs initiative that invites Americans to work in agricultural jobs.

Cris-P Produce Co. Inc. in Nogales, AZ, an organic produce and greenhouse grower, announced Sept. 23 that it has changed its name to Wholesum Family Farms as part of a recent rebranding campaign.

The company enlisted the support of FreshXperts, a full-service produce consultancy, to lead its rebranding efforts. Ken Hopps and Anthony Totta, co- owners of FreshXperts, told The Produce News that Wholesum Family Farms' practices exemplify the new name.

Mehmet Oz may host a popular television and radio show, but he didn't win over friends in the produce industry when he warned the public to fear pesticide residues in certain fresh fruits and vegetables.

After a Sept. 24 segment of the "Dr. Oz Show" listed the "dirtiest produce items," four fruit and vegetable trade associations fired off a Sept. 28 letter refuting the charges.

Over the past several months, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. has made quite a bit of news. However, most of it has been bad.

OXNARD, CA -- John Leo Boskovich, former vice president of Boskovich Farms in Oxnard, CA, died Sept. 7 at the age of 84 after a brief period of declining health.

CORAL GABLES, FL -- Turbana Corp. is celebrating 40 years of existence since opening its doors in 1970.

Since its inception, Turbana has been one of the premier importers of premium bananas, exotic bananas and plantains in North America.

"It is amazing how far the company has gone and how much it has grown since it started, not just as an importer of quality fruit, but as a leader of socially responsible farming and an advocate of fair trade," Juan Alarcon, chief executive officer at Turbana, said in a Sept. 24 press release.