WASHINGTON -- With the future of immigration reform hanging by a thread, 160 growers and producers descended on Congress May 16 to warn of the dire circumstances to an industry unable to find a legal workforce.

"There are consequences to you, the country, if Congress does nothing," warned Monte Lake, a legal advisor to the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform and an attorney with McGuiness & Williams.

Mr. Lake said that agricultural lobbyists should make Congress understand the impact of job losses if businesses fail due to labor problems.

Los Angeles-based Harvest Sensations and Brentwood, CA-based Frog Hollow Farm have entered into a national distribution agreement for all of Frog Hollow's fresh fruit and value-added fruit products, including purees, individually quick-frozen fruit slices and conserves.

Frog Hollow Farm grows multiple varieties of stone fruit including peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, pluots and cherries.

After reviewing studies on Fit fruit and vegetable wash, the U.S. Army has approved it as an alternative sanitizer for fresh fruits and vegetables used by the military, a move that may clear the way for the Fit manufacturer to market the antibacterial product to government installations.

"We were approached by the manufacturer and found it worked," said Alphonso (Rick) Byrd of the Army Center for Excellence, Quality Assurance Division. The group, based in Fort Lee, VA, is in charge of providing food- safety advice for the military's worldwide foodservice program.

Former California Grown Chief Executive Officer Scott Horsfall has been named to head the new California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

The agreement has voluntary participation, and about 99 percent of the leafy greens production in California is accounted for under the agreement. Mr. Horsfall steps into the role "familiar with the requirements" of marketing agreements, he said. He will begin his new position May 29 and will be located in Sacramento, CA, although the exact location hadn't been determined as of Friday, May 18.

WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association has approved a plan to begin collecting microbiological testing data on commodities, Robert Whitaker of NewStar Fresh Foods said at a food-safety hearing on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Whitaker, who is also past chairman of United Fresh, said that the database would be blinded to protect the identity of data sources and developed in conjunction with outside legal counsel to provide maximum integrity.

MONTREAL -- The Canadian Produce Marketing Association's recently completed convention was shorter in duration than in previous years, but CPMA officials termed it successful in all respects, from workshops to social events, from speakers to the trade show.

The 82nd annual convention, held here May 9-11, was a three-day event - one day shorter than in previous years.