WASHINGTON -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) reintroduced her AgJOBS bill May 14 to fix the broken H-2A seasonal worker program and help struggling agricultural employers retain a stable, legal workforce to produce the nation's food supply.

"The central issue here is not immigration. It is about protecting and preserving the American economy," Sen. Feinstein said in a May 14 press statement.

A group of 20 small- and medium-sized greenhouse owners in the Leamington, ON, area has banded together to collectively market its products.

CAMARILLO, CA -- A new state-of-the-art, technologically advanced greenhouse facility, which is being touted as the future of sustainable agriculture, was unveiled May 14 by Houweling Nurseries, here.

FRESNO, CA -- The harvest of the 2009 California fresh fig crop was already underway when The Produce News talked to Karla Stockli, chief executive officer of the California Fig Advisory Board and the California Fresh fig Growers Association, here, on Friday, May 15.

The association expects fresh fig shipments for the state to total between 9.5 million and 10.5 million pounds for 2009, similar to or perhaps slightly below last year's shipments of 10.4 million pounds.

OVIEDO, FL -- As the California Navel orange season draws to a close early this year with lighter-than-expected volumes, Duda Farm Fresh Foods will offer Chilean Navel oranges to customers from coast to coast beginning June 15.

SALINAS, CA -- Buying locally grown produce is a long-standing practice at Star Market in Salinas, CA.

Star Market is a mid-sized, independent, family-owned grocery store. The single-entity store is uniquely positioned in the heart of the "Salad Bowl of the World" and has long been a favorite outlet for products from growers in California in the tri-county area of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz.