FRESNO, CA -- Ed Beckman, president of the California Tomato Commission, and a delegation of several growers and shippers of California tomatoes recently went on a trade mission to Japan, the second one this year. The mission proved to be productive in expanding opportunities for California tomatoes in the Japanese marketplace, according to Mr. Beckman.

California tomato packer-shipper Gonzales Packing Co. in Gonzales, CA, has filed a lawsuit against the California Tomato Commission and its president claiming that the commission is unconstitutional and that Chief Executive Officer Ed Beckman has misappropriated funds. A.G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, is also named in the lawsuit for failing to carry out his oversight duties.

Seattle-based Amerifresh -- a leader in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the retail grocery and foodservice industries -- recently held its 12th annual event for sales associates at the Culinary Center of Monterey, the fourth year in a row the event has been held there.

Mark Krauter, manager of Amerifresh's Fresno, CA, branch, said that the event is a reward for the company's top produce sales associates. Each year the company invites different vendors to make product presentations.

Shelley Broader, president and chief executive officer of Tampa, FL-based Sweetbay Supermarket, is continuing to leverage her leadership team by announcing several changes.

Dole Fresh Vegetables Co. has announced its new "Restaurant Ready" asparagus. With foodservice operators seeking a more convenient, value-driven asparagus pack, Dole said it rose to the challenge and created a new product that eliminates both prep time and waste.

This new item is hand-selected fresh asparagus -- already cut to a tip form, thoroughly washed and packed in a patent-protected, breathable microwave-ready bag, ready to serve in as little as six minutes.

The latest issue in the seemingly unending list of bad news for Florida's once $9 billion-dollar-a-year citrus industry is that about 90 percent of the state's nurseries that grow and nurture young citrus trees may have to close their businesses.