SALINAS, CA -- By the end of May, the largest U.S. lettuce shipper will have cut 40 percent of its top management positions, closed its Mexican growing operation, ceased growing and selling lettuce destined for conventional fresh-cut processing, and greatly reduced its asparagus shipping program.

PHILADELPHIA -- Mexico has a new focus on developing its terminal markets, according to Alfredo Neme, president of the National Terminal Markets Confederation, which uses the Spanish-language acronym, CONACCA A.C., and is based in Mexico City.

Mr. Neme spoke in Philadelphia with The Produce News as he and his colleague, Fernanda Padilla, business secretary of Central de Abastos de Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico, attended the North American Produce Market Managers' meeting held recently, here.

WASHINGTON -- The day after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the farm bill, the Senate approved the nearly $300 billion bill by a 81- 15 vote, ensuring a veto-proof majority and securing a new voice for fruit and vegetable programs on Capitol Hill.

"This bill provides more funding for fruit and vegetable industry programs and priorities than any other farm bill in history, attention that is well deserved and has been long awaited and signals that the times are changing," said Produce Marketing Association President Bryan Silbermann.

IRVINE, CA -- The California Avocado Commission board of directors accepted Mark Affleck's resignation May 15, effective immediately. Mr. Affleck has served as president and chief executive officer of the commission for the past 20 years and is leaving to pursue other interests.

"For the past two decades, Mark's visionary leadership has been instrumental in generating increased consumer demand for avocados. The avocado industry has benefited greatly from Mark's strategic approach to marketing," the commission's Rick Shade said in a May 16 statement.

Maria E. Allred, a longtime member of the staff at Golden Rule Produce, died April 18 in Alamo, TX. She was 53.

Born in Mexico, Ms. Allred was formerly of Alamo and had lived in Edinburg, TX, for 24 years. She was employed by Golden Rule in McAllen, TX, for 24 years, most recently as the produce sales company's office manager. Her husband, Ronald Dean Allred, is a buyer and sales representative for Golden Rule.

WASHINGTON -- The House of representatives overwhelmingly approved the long-awaited farm bill conference report with $3 billion in specialty crop program priorities and a veto-proof majority.

The nearly $300 billion bill passed the House 318-106 -- a large enough majority to override a veto promised by President Bush, who criticized the bill as too pricey and for falling short of needed farm-subsidy reforms.