Prolonged and heavy rains in Southern California have tightened strawberry supplies, resulting in a soaring berry market that may continue into the Easter pull.

Naturipe Farms, a nationwide grower and marketer of berries, has added industry veterans Don Harris and Robert Verloop to its senior management team.

Company President Bruce Peterson announced that Mr. Harris is joining the company effective Feb. 4 as director of procurement and wholesale sales, a new position that leverages Mr. Harris' extensive experience on the buying side of the equation.

Mr. Harris has more than 30 years of experience in the retail sector and most recently was director of procurement for Wild Oats. He was also with Safeway for many years.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation, the American Heart Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other organizations and agencies, including virtually all fruit and vegetable commodity boards, have been working for years to get the word out about the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables.

WASHINGTON -- While lawmakers continue to wrestle over the 2007 farm bill and the produce industry lies in wait, the Senate approved former North Dakota Gov. Edward Schafer to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The former two-term Republican governor was quickly and unanimously approved by the Senate, and hours later took his seat along side other Cabinet heads at the State of the Union speech Jan. 28 in Washington.

Glennville, GA-based Bland Farms has increased its presence in key onion- growing areas and is now poised for future growth.

"Bland Farms has a strategy in place that will enable us to grow and expand in many directions in the coming future," said Michael Hively, chief financial officer and general manager of the firm. "We recently broke ground on a new facility in Donna, Texas, near McAllen. It is 100,000 square feet and will have cooler space for 3,200 pallets. It will be used for storing and moving onions and custom-packing other commodities."

Thomas R. Ford, chairman of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee in Monte Vista, CO, will be inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in Denver on Feb. 28. Mr. Ford was one of several nominees to pass the rigorous screening process of the Montrose-based Colorado FFA Foundation Inc.

Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp will preside over the award ceremony, which will be held at the Doubletree Hotel Denver located at 3202 Quebec Street. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.