Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., a leading global producer and distributor of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, and a top producer and distributor of prepared fruit, vegetables and other products in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, reported solid financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year-ended Dec. 31.

Ballantine Produce Co. in Reedley, CA, announced the addition of Greg Mancini to its sales and marketing team.

Mr. Mancini will be involved in all areas of sales of the company, including domestic and imported tree fruit, grapes and specialty items.

His experience in marketing stone fruit and grape programs will add depth to the Ballantine organization and sales strength to its diverse product offerings.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., based in Minneapolis has acquired the operations and certain assets of three produce sourcing and marketing companies: FoodSource Inc., FoodSource Procurement LLC and Epic Roots Inc.

The three companies combined had gross revenues of approximately $270 million in 2004.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

WASHINGTON " Farm groups wasted no time protesting the Bush administration?s proposal to cut farm and commodity subsidies in the 2006 budget.

A coalition of 100 farm groups fired off a letter to newly confirmed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, warning that reductions would "seriously undermine many nutrition, conservation, crop insurance and farm programs that are important to all Americans."

PACIFIC GROVE, CA " A survey conducted by the University of California-Santa Cruz reveals that consumers want to know about the source of the food they eat.

Phil Howard of UC-Santa Cruz?s Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems shared findings of the study at the 25th annual Ecological Farming Conference held here at Asilomar Conference Center in late January. Mr. Howard?s written evaluation and summation of the study were provided to attendees of a seminar he hosted.

PHILADELPHIA " As the board of directors of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market emerged from a planning meeting on the afternoon of Feb. 8, board President Jimmy Storey of Quaker City Produce said that the final design for a new Philadelphia produce market had been finally " and officially " accepted.

?It is still a mall-type of effect," as was initially planned. A tired-sounding Mr. Storey added, "We?re a little concerned about parking, and we?re a little concerned about the cost. But we?ll work everything out."