TRAVER, CA -- It has been just two years since Scattaglia Growers & Shippers LLC was formed, and during those two years "we've been more successful than I had ever dreamed," said Louis Scattaglia, managing partner. "That is why we are heading down this path of expansion."

The expansion to which he referred is a multi-faceted program consisting of new office construction, enhanced packing capability and the planting of additional fruit orchards and grape vineyards. Eventually, as needed, additional sales and sales support staff will also be added.

EAST GRAND FORKS, MN -- The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association based in East Grand Forks, MN, has elected Gregg Halverson of Grand Forks, ND, as its new chairman.

Mr. Halverson is president and chief executive officer of Grand Forks, ND- based Black Gold Farms, which raises potatoes on 15,000 acres located in 10 different states.

WASHINGTON -- With the U.S. Senate yet to take up a food safety bill, the Produce Safety Project is hoping a new report that finds foodborne illness costs to be $152 billion annually, including $39 billion attributed to produce- related outbreaks, will get lawmakers' attention.

The new study, Health-Related Costs from Foodborne Illness in the United States, attributes more than a quarter of the $152 billion total costs of foodborne illnesses to fresh, canned and processed produce.

With above normal precipitation in California this winter after three years of drought, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made an announcement Feb. 26 that on its surface seemed to say that farmers on the West Side of California's San Joaquin Valley, who had their federal water deliveries slashed to almost nothing last year, could expect as much as 30-40 percent of their normal water this year.

Three industry trade associations released a new voluntary food-safety guidance document March 2 in an effort to strengthen the safety of the green onion supply chain.

Western Growers Association, the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association, with the support of other industry associations, academics, regulatory agencies and the green onion industry, released the Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Value-Added Operations of Green Onions.

ARVIN, CA -- Kern Ridge Growers LLC in Arvin, CA, has been in the carrot growing, packing and marketing business since 1973 and processes "well over 100 million pounds of carrots a year," consisting of both conventionally grown and organic product, according to General Manager Bob Giragosian, one of the company's owners.