"The Florida cabbage deal is winding down. It's pretty much finished for us," Terry Granzier, president of Lakeside Produce Distribution Inc., told The Produce News May 14.

The firm, which is based in Westlake, OH, was "moving into the Memorial Day push" in mid-May. This cabbage will be shipped from southern Georgia. North Carolina cabbage is to begin in early June.

"The crop looks nice, but freight is an absolute bear right now," he said. "Our only big issue now is trucking. Rates have gone through the roof."

The international papaya importer and distributor HLB Tropical Food is seeing an increase in papaya production from Brazil after the South American nation experienced a shortage in Golden papaya production in April, which drastically affected the North American and European markets.

HLB's imports from Brazil to the United States dropped a staggering 51 percent in April. The situation in Europe was similar, especially affecting the Easter holiday sales. HLB's growers maintain that production has increased and is now back to its normal output.

SALINAS, CA -- By the end of May, the largest U.S. lettuce shipper will have cut 40 percent of its top management positions, closed its Mexican growing operation, ceased growing and selling lettuce destined for conventional fresh-cut processing, and greatly reduced its asparagus shipping program.

PHILADELPHIA -- Mexico has a new focus on developing its terminal markets, according to Alfredo Neme, president of the National Terminal Markets Confederation, which uses the Spanish-language acronym, CONACCA A.C., and is based in Mexico City.

Mr. Neme spoke in Philadelphia with The Produce News as he and his colleague, Fernanda Padilla, business secretary of Central de Abastos de Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico, attended the North American Produce Market Managers' meeting held recently, here.

WASHINGTON -- The day after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the farm bill, the Senate approved the nearly $300 billion bill by a 81- 15 vote, ensuring a veto-proof majority and securing a new voice for fruit and vegetable programs on Capitol Hill.

"This bill provides more funding for fruit and vegetable industry programs and priorities than any other farm bill in history, attention that is well deserved and has been long awaited and signals that the times are changing," said Produce Marketing Association President Bryan Silbermann.

IRVINE, CA -- The California Avocado Commission board of directors accepted Mark Affleck's resignation May 15, effective immediately. Mr. Affleck has served as president and chief executive officer of the commission for the past 20 years and is leaving to pursue other interests.

"For the past two decades, Mark's visionary leadership has been instrumental in generating increased consumer demand for avocados. The avocado industry has benefited greatly from Mark's strategic approach to marketing," the commission's Rick Shade said in a May 16 statement.