SunSelect Produce in Aldergrove, BC, is the latest greenhouse producer to join marketing forces with Vancouver, BC-based The Oppenheimer Group. Oppenheimer signed a multi-year agreement with SunSelect in mid-March, and began shipping the first bell peppers grown by its new partner a week later.

?My brother and I, in a friendly move, split and went different directions," Michael Cutler told The Produce News on April 11, a week after his new firm, Michael Cutler Co. in Olyphant, PA, began its operations.

Mr. Cutler, who has been in the produce business for 37 years, was previously associated with his brother, Harris Cutler, in Race West Co. and Philip G. Ball Co. in Clarks Summit, PA.

Harris Cutler succinctly and simply commented to The Produce News: "We wish Michael and his employees great success in their new venture."

NEWARK, DE -- Fruits and vegetables are the centerpiece of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new food guidance system that will be used to help the public understand and use the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and make more healthful choices among the foods they eat, including greater consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Ivey Pope wears many hats as a young, up-and-coming produce professional.

The 25-year-old plays multiple roles representing multiple related companies, all under the auspices of DL&B Enterprises in Clinton, NC.

DL&B is a grower, packer, shipper and a lot more, according to Ms. Pope.

"Doug and Linda Wilson are the owners; DL&B stands for Doug and Linda and the boys," Ms. Pope said of the family-owned business.

WASHINGTON " A new report by federal disease investigators on last year?s Salmonella outbreak at Sheetz convenience stores raised more questions than it offered answers about how tomatoes may have sickened 561 people in 18 states.

Year-to-date, the Florida tomato industry is behind by about 6 million boxes from previous years. Approximately 5 million of that figure is directly attributable to crop damage and losses that resulted from the four hurricanes that hit the state in August and September of last year. But the remaining 1 million-box decline is being blamed on spring shortages due to unusually bad weather in the state during the current growing season as well as some sporadic disease problems.