On July 20, Manuel (Manny) Maldonado, an employee of Baldor Specialty Foods in the Bronx, NY, was involved in a serious car accident in which he suffered a severe spinal cord injury, one that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Mr. Maldonado is 31 years old and the father of a young boy, Manny Jr.

In a proactive measure to ensure the integrity of onions grown in Idaho- Eastern Oregon's Treasure Valley, concerned shippers recently joined forces to form the non-profit Certified Onions Inc.

According to corporate President Kay Riley, general manager of Snake River Produce in Nyssa, OR, the impetus behind the new company, which incorporated June 24, was twofold.

Noting that the membership of Certified Onions Inc. is comprised of numerous Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee member sheds, Mr. Riley stated that the two entities are completely separate.

When the membership of the Idaho Grower Shipper Association gathers for its 81st annual convention Sept. 2-4 in Sun Valley, ID, it will mark the first year under the leadership of Travis Blacker, who took the helm following the retirement of the organization's former longtime president, Dave Smith.

Mr. Blacker told The Produce News that overall it has been a successful and exciting first year.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Food & Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg will address produce industry leaders Friday morning, Sept. 11, attending the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference.

"There is never a dull moment in the produce business," said Nick Mascari, new account sales representative for Indianapolis Fruit Co. Inc. in Indianapolis. "And no two days are the same. You have to love this business to work in it. But the people are the best in the world, and I knew from a young age that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I cannot see myself working in any other field."

WASHINGTON -- One of the more visible food safety officials at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration - former Associate Commissioner for Foods David Acheson - started a new venture in August advising companies on food safety and trade issues at the consulting firm Leavitt Partners.

With experience in infectious diseases and seven years as a food safety regulator, Dr. Acheson was asked by former Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to join a new consulting firm that focuses on trade, health and environmental issues.