SALINAS, CA -- A yearlong profitability study of Salinas Valley's Iceberg lettuce quantifies what most Salinas Valley shippers have come to recognize: Forward contracts provide the best chance for profitability with their Iceberg lettuce programs.

Roland Fumasi, a graduate assistant at California Polytechnic State University, unveiled the results of his yearlong study May 24 to a contingent of about 25 Salinas Valley-based shippers, salespeople and growers.

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriation Committee approved the fiscal year 2006 funding bill May 25 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food & Drug Administration. During the bill's consideration, the committee approved an amendment containing $7 million in funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grants authorized last year in the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act.

May 23 was a good day for commodity promotion programs when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Beef Council program qualifies as "government speech" and thus is exempt from First Amendment challenges.

The ruling was the latest from the Supreme Court on the issue of mandatory funding of commodity promotion programs, and was a clear victory for the proponents of these programs that are typically under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or state agricultural agencies.

Jim Gorny, vice president of scientific and technical affairs for the International Fresh-cut Produce Association in Alexandria, VA, will depart the association to join Washington, DC-based United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association as vice president of quality assurance and technology. Dr. Gorny will fill the slot at United left vacant by the departure of Donna Garren, who earlier this year joined the National Restaurant Association.

Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc., headquartered in Bakersfield, CA, and one of the larger carrot grower-shippers in the country, is looking to sell at least part of the firm, according to an article in the May 20 issue of the Bakersfield Californian.