WASHINGTON -- United Fresh Produce Association President and Tom Stenzel, the organization's chief executive officer, applauded the Nov. 19 announcement from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in her efforts to seek the chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas held its 42nd Nogales Produce Convention Nov. 4-6 in Tubac, AZ.
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The Prince Edward Island potato crop got off to an early start this year, according to Greg Donald, general manager of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board in Charlottetown, PEI. Planting was completed 10-14 days earlier than normal.

MAUI, HI — Continuing a family tradition of service to the association that spans more than five decades, Tom Deardorff, president of Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, CA, was elected chairman of the board of the Western Growers Association Nov. 15 at its 85th annual convention, held Nov. 14-17 at the Grand Wailea, here.

WASHINGTON — Food safety legislation jumped through a key hurdle Nov. 17 when the Senate voted to begin debating the once-stalled bill, but the fresh produce industry is still nervous about an amendment that could jeopardize its support for the bill.

By a 74-25 vote, the Senate approved a cloture measure allowing the body to debate the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act (S 510), a bill that passed a Senate committee nearly a year ago and the House in July 2009.

In a boomerang deal befitting its Australian roots, Brambles Ltd., the parent company of Orlando, FL-based CHEP Equipment Pooling Systems, announced the planned acquisition of Netherlands-based IFCO Systems NV, a leading provider of reusable plastic containers in 23 countries and pallet management services in the United States, after letting that company go in 2006.