Hardly a day passes without a major network or newspaper reporting on the severe drought occurring in the southeastern United States. The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services is concerned that viewers and readers -- those in the produce industry included -- might be getting the impression that Florida will not have crops to feed the nation.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate continued work on the 2007 farm bill with hopes for a fix to agricultural worker shortages dashed and the threat of a veto looming.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council has welcomed back a former staffer to lead the organization upon the retirement of its long-time president at the end of the year.

Carissa Mace will return as president of the Southern California-based council starting Dec. 10. She will replace Linda Stine, who announced her retirement earlier this year after 13 years at the helm.

A search committee, headed by FPFC Chairman of the Board Raul Gallegos of Bristol Farms Supermarkets, conducted a six-month nationwide search before settling on this industry veteran.

Darci Eckermann, formerly vice president of marketing and business development for The Sholl Group in Minneapolis, has been promoted to senior vice president.

She will lead the company's aggressive growth plans by overseeing sales, marketing, safety and quality systems and partner relations, for both the licensed and value-added business segments.

Included in the exorbitant costs that fruit and vegetable growers currently face are the third-party audits associated with food safety. The problem has even been tagged "audit fatigue" by industry professionals. But tomato representatives from Florida and California are now attempting to find relief from the condition.