WASHINGTON -- The produce industry welcomed news that a Senate committee approved a guest worker program for agricultural workers last week, but the battle is far from over.

Racing against the clock, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a comprehensive guest worker bill during a day- long session that included an amendment sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) designed to maintain an agricultural workforce. By an 11-5 vote, the Feinstein amendment was attached to a bill destined for the Senate floor in the coming days.

VANCOUVER, BC -- The Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 81st annual convention and exposition held here March 22-25 drew record attendance for the second straight year.

In 2005, when the CPMA event was held in Toronto, overall attendance -- including exhibitors and patrons -- stood at a record 3,400. This year the show drew 4,100 registered attendees, said Ron Lemaire, CPMA's executive vice president and director of marketing. There were 321 exhibitor booths at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre.

GUATEMALA CITY -- The faces of Agritrade have changed in the 18 years since the Guatemalan trade show was launched.

The one-day New England Produce Council Produce & Floral Expo 2006 will be held April 5 in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. It will be the first time the meeting has been held in this new center.

Laura Sullivan, executive director of the council, told The Produce News March 20, "We anticipate 200 booths with full retail support from New England retailers." The retail representation ranges from many of New England's retail store-level produce managers to the buying level.

At the Fruit Logistica convention in Berlin, Germany, earlier this year, retailers were intrigued with the produce department misting systems offered for sale, but not enough to purchase them.

"People wanted to see the new technology from America, but we have found that retailers [in Europe and elsewhere] are just not open for change," said Itamar Kleinberge, vice president of Prodew Misting & Humidification in Marietta, GA.

The California Strawberry Commission's 2006 acreage survey reports different trends for fall-planted acreage compared to acreage planted in the summer months.