MISSION, TX -- The main citrus packing facility and the office for Rio Queen Citrus Inc. were destroyed by fire June 11 after a welder's torch apparently ignited insulation, according to an announcement from TexaSweet Citrus Marketing Inc. and the Texas Produce Association. There were no injuries in the complex, which was undergoing off-season repairs.

MEDFORD NJ -- The Philadelphia Chapter of the United Fresh Produce Association held its annual Louis Penza Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament at the Medford Village Country Club, here, June 6.

About 100 golfers came from or were customers of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, and more than $10,000 was raised for local charities through the event.

San Diego-based US Farms Inc., a diversified farming and nursery company, announced June 10 that it is in the process of divesting the non-performing parts of its produce brokerage segment, specifically the tomato, asparagus and garlic operations.

This restructuring will allow the company to focus on its long-term strategies of expanding its core aloe vera farming and nursery operations, as well as completing the intended acquisition of specific aloe vera manufacturing and bottling equipment, for which the company has a current letter of intent.

Bob Whitaker, Produce Marketing Association's chief science officer, responded Thursday morning, June 12, to questions on the organization's new web-based briefing series regarding the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak associated with tomatoes.

The questions that everyone is waiting for the answers to -- what is the source of the pathogen and what is taking so long to find the source -- are good ones, but far from easy ones to answer.

Dr. Whitaker said that at its very core, traceback is an investigation that relies on data gathering and analysis.

Charles H. Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, announced Tuesday afternoon, June 10, that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has deemed Florida-grown tomatoes safe.

Later in the evening, the FDA updated its website to reflect the change. As of that update, 24 states and seven offshore countries had been added to the FDA's list of areas that "have not been associated with the outbreak."