WASHINGTON -- First, Congress found $1.6 billion for specialty crop programs. Now, the same farm bill negotiators have struck a compromise on mandatory country-of-origin labeling that has earned the endorsement of the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association.

Lara Grossman, director of business and marketing development for Tanimura & Antle, said that the company's Father's Day retail promotion with Iceberg lettuce in a baseball themed cello wrap was a big hit.

T&A Chief Executive Officer Rick Antle had wanted a holiday associated with the company, and he chose to "own" Father's Day. So this was an "evergreen" promotion, not a one-time promotion just for this Father's Day holiday.

John Killeen, vice president of sales and marketing for Salinas, CA-based NewStar Fresh Foods, has left the company to join Tanimura & Antle as its new vice president of business development.

Mr. Killeen had worked at Tanimura & Antle several years ago under Ken Silveira, T&A's current president and chief operating officer. Mr. Silveira said that he was sorry to see Mr. Killeen leave the first time and is glad to have him back.

When Matthew Ecker looks back on his introduction to the produce industry, fond memories flood his mind.

"I was three or four years old riding the forklift with my dad, that's what I'd look forward to every weekend," the 23-year-old Mr. Ecker said about his visits to the warehouse of Vineland Growers Co-Operative, where his dad, Michael, serves as vice president of sales and marketing.

Switching to more environmentally friendly light fixtures and lighting is a noble gesture for any company. When it saves money, increases the brightness of the facility and adds an element of worker safety as well, it is truly a win-win proposition.

"We have a green logo," said Jack Gyben, who is vice president of marketing and development for Progressive Produce Corp. in Los Angeles, as well as one of the company's owners. "But that green logo for us also represents our commitment to the environment and, in this case, the money we will save by making this switch."

WASHINGTON -- Daily headlines questioning the safety of Chinese food exports have fueled more calls on Capitol Hill to resuscitate the 2002 country-of-origin labeling law.

Currently, legislation that would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture sets firm dates for implementing the country-of-origin labeling law for produce, peanuts and meat.