Several board members of the three-year-old Chicago International Produce Market indicate that the move from the historic, but highly antiquated, South Water Street Market was an extremely good one.

Rodger Wasson, president of the California Strawberry Commission since May 2002, announced his resignation from the commission, effective Sept. 15.

Mr. Wasson told The Produce News that his decision to resign was reached mutually with the executive committee of the commission and that he had alerted them at several points during his tenure that he felt the day would come when the commission would be better served by finding his replacement.

The commission is a state government agency that represents an industry of about 510 growers and 75 shippers and processors.

While reservoirs across Colorado were nearing capacity in late June and early July and easing a water shortage that in 2002 had thrown 85 percent of the state into dangerously dry conditions, not all farmers were ready to say their concerns over water have ended.

However, Mike Gillespie, snow survey supervisor for the Natural Resources Conservation Survey, said at a mid-May press briefing in Denver that year-to-date snow totals were closer to average than the past seven, and most water-storage facilities were at 89 percent capacity or better at that juncture.

Over much of its 95-year history, produce distributor Sun Valley Fruit Co. (previously known as Hutchinson Fruit) owned its vehicles to pick up products and make deliveries. But about a year ago, the company made a significant change and began leasing trucks through PacLease.

WASHINGTON -- Issues facing the California specialty crops industry will be showcased Aug. 26 when Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) takes lawmakers with a congressional subcommittee to his district for a field hearing.

The House Agriculture Subcommittee wants to hear about the successes and failures experienced under the federal grants program, along with its unique challenges, such as trade issues, pest and disease problems, and conservation difficulties.

What would you do if a food-borne illness were traced to your produce? Events beyond your control can put your company right in the middle of a crisis at any time, and how you respond to it can make all the difference.

The new PMA Crisis Management Manual is designed to do just that -- help the produce industry prepare for and properly manage any kind of crisis that may occur. This user-friendly guide was released at the 2005 Foodservice Conference Tours & Exposition July 23-25 in Monterey, CA.