BOSTON - If the well-worn but nevertheless crucial idea of "satisfying your customer" is still the key to success for any business, then attendees of the New England Produce Council?s expo heard a dynamic and magical presentation that told them exactly how to get that key.

With gasoline prices at an all-time high and an already-critical trucking situation in place, the Florida produce industry is faced with a double whammy that may threaten big and small companies alike.

Ray Gilmer, director of public affairs for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, said that the word in the produce industry is that trucking could reach crisis status this year because of the high fuel prices, but some say it's just another straw on this already weakened camel?s back.

WASHINGTON " More than two dozen produce groups are urging the Senate to approve agriculture worker reform legislation, known as AgJOBS, that may be offered on the Senate floor during the week of April 11.

A reformed H-2A worker program is absolutely critical to all labor-intensive agriculture sectors, said Craig Regelbrugge, senior director of government relations for the American Nursery & Landscape Association.

ATLANTA " Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced that the Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel has selected April 28 as the shipping date to begin the 2005 Vidalia onion marketing season.

The panel selected the date after examining this year?s crop and determining the best times to harvest and begin shipping.

Salinas, CA-based Epic Roots LLC, a leading grower and distributor of mache-based salads, announced that its founder, Todd Koons, and mache were featured in the Culinary Renegades article in the April 4 issue of Time magazine.

The produce industry?s top growers and suppliers have joined together once again to organize the Don Strock Diabetes Classic, one of South Florida?s longer-running celebrity/amateur charity golf tournaments, which benefits the Diabetes Research Institute.