Jeffery Hall, who has helped guide the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, GA, during the past year as manager after the organization was left reeling from a corruption scandal perpetrated by its prior manager, Tina Wheeler, will resign to take a position with National Onion Lab Inc. in nearby Collins, GA.

The "nuances" of what happened during pollination and cold weather earlier this season brought about a mid-May first drop of Northwest cherries that B.J. Thurlby of the Washington State Fruit Commission called "the most severe in 10 years.

But Mr. Thurlby was quick to add this year's crop, while not the 13 million-plus boxes originally estimated, will hit between 11 million and 11.5 million boxes, "right where it was last year, when it was one of the larger crops on record.

Stephanie Zarati, a saleswoman with Santa Maria, CA-based Fresh Kist Produce LLC, received an award from Birds Eye Fresh for outstanding sales in the first quarter of 2005 in a June 6 ceremony at Fresh Kist.

Fresh Kist is a supplier to Birds Eye Fresh, the fresh division of Birds Eye Foods. A representative of Birds Eye Fresh was on hand to present to Ms. Zarati a glass plate denoting her accomplishment as the top salesperson of Birds Eye Fresh products for the quarter, said Josh Wong, marketing director for Fresh Kist.

Former produce industry veteran Lorne Johnston died May 20 of a heart attack, leaving behind produce industry friends who trace back several decades.

Mr. Johnston's fatal heart attack followed a stroke he suffered a few days earlier. It was a major heart attack in 1993 that forced Mr. Johnston into retirement. At the time, he was sales manager for United Fruit Marketing in Yakima, WA. He worked there from 1992 to 1994.

John Corsaro, vice president of business development for the Giumarra Cos., announced June 1 that the Salazar family in Hermosillo, Mexico, and the Giumarra Cos. had successfully completed the first-ever USDA inspection of grapes in Mexico. Every lot passed inspection.

"This result is a testament to the Salazar family's commitment to grow the highest quality fruit and to give the customer the best service possible," said Mr. Corsaro. "The cold chain will not be broken at the border, thereby ensuring that the customer will receive fruit in excellent condition.

WASHINGTON -- Fruit and vegetable businesses will likely keep a close eye on a USDA spending bill as it moves to the House floor in early June since it contains funds for the popular specialty crops program and delays country-of-origin labeling for meat products.