Companies in and around the Salinas Valley will not face criminal charges over the deadly E. coli outbreak last year that was linked to fresh spinach grown by at least one area farm outside the Salinas Valley, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday, June 21.

News that the comprehensive immigration reform bill collapsed in the Senate spread disappointment across the agriculture industry, but industry leaders said too much was at stake to walk away from the fight.

A June 28 procedural 53-46 vote killed the bill and appears to have dashed chances for comprehensive immigration reform until after the next presidential election. The bill, which was abandoned by Republicans and Democrats, would have overhauled the H-2A agricultural worker program and allowed experienced farmworkers to earn citizenship.

The Oppenheimer Group has announced the promotion of Rachel Mercado to sales representative, effective June 1. Ms. Mercado will market the full range of Oppenheimer products to customers in the Pacific Northwest, specializing in the company's organic line. She replaces Ty Franzer, who left in May to pursue business interests outside the industry.

The Giumarra Cos. and Agricom have announced a joint partnership in the global marketing of avocados called Giumarra Agricom Global LLC. The Giumarra Cos. is a leading international network of fresh produce growers, distributors and marketers, and Agricom is one of the larger and more respected Chilean fresh food exporters and one of the world's larger avocado exporters. The alliance offers customers access to a consistent, 12-month supply of avocados from California, Mexico and South America.

WASHINGTON -- In a procedural vote Thursday, June 28 by the Senate, debate on legislation that would reform the nation's immigration laws was blocked, and comprehensive immigration legislation was pulled from the Senate floor.

A vote was called earlier in the day that would have ended debate on the bill and allow the Senate to move forward with final consideration and possible passage. It failed to secure the 60 votes required by a vote of 46-53 and effectively ended any consideration for immigration reform for the foreseeable future.

The development of a successful onion industry in New Mexico isn't a pipe dream. Interest, a sense of vision and a "can-do" attitude have turned the vegetable into a viable part of the state's annual agricultural economy.

During peak harvest periods in June and July, New Mexico supplies as much as half of all dry onions consumed in the United States during those summer months.

Land devoted to onion production in New Mexico has grown significantly. A few hundred acres were utilized for onion production in 1930, and that figure increased to around 3,000 acres by 1980.