Rex Henderson, who built a great team and department during two decades of excellence as director of floral, was honored with a retirement party May 31, his last day as a member of the management team at United Supermarkets LLC.

“It’s just been a wonderful honor being part of this company,” Henderson said during the ceremony. “It’s truly amazing how much our company has grown in the last 20 years. It’s just been phenomenal to see it and to be a part of it.”

WASHINGTON — Canadian trade officials released a wide-ranging list of commodities, including fresh apples and cherries, that may become the target of retaliatory tariffs if a dispute over country-of-origin labeling of livestock is not resolved.

The World Trade Organization found USDA's COOL program discriminated against imported livestock and gave U.S. authorities until May 23 to bring the COOL rule into compliance.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted 66-27 to pass the five-year farm bill, passing the baton to the U.S. House, which may begin debating the bill during the week of June 17.

The final vote came in the evening of June 10 after one amendment was approved (48-38) to set up a pilot grant program to expand high-speed Internet.

Interfresh Inc., a national supplier of fruits and vegetables based in Orange, CA, announced the opening of a new field office in Dallas to be headed up by Frank Bonaparte, a long-time industry veteran.

Bonaparte's career spans some 27 years across many facets of the produce industry, and for the past several years he has serviced a customer base in California's Bay Area.

Denver-based FreshPack Produce hired MIKE COMAZZI as vice president of procurement.

Comazzi has been working in the produce industry for a total of 31 years, first getting his start as a fuel jockey for an Orlando-based distributor in 1982. Prior to joining FreshPack, he worked for FreshPoint Inc. for 27 years.

In his spare time, Comazzi enjoys golfing, hiking and running. He currently resides in Littleton, CO, with his wife.

HAMMONTON, NJ — With “very consistent” weather during the winter and spring months, Atlantic Blueberry Co. is looking for the 2013 New Jersey blueberry season to start pretty much on time with greater volume than last year.