“Technology is at the forefront of our business every day,” said Nate Stone, chief operating officer for Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc., in Detroit. “A couple of short decades ago we didn’t think it was very important, but today we know that it’s many times more important than we can even imagine. Everything operates with technology today, but we also believe that it’s still a ‘hands-on’ business, and we demonstrate that by continuing to provide the best personal service possible.”

“I speak for the entire industry when I say that there is a tremendous cooperative spirit that exists between the produce terminal merchants and the retailers in Detroit,” said Jeff Abrash, president and owner of Andrews Bros. Inc., located at the Detroit Produce Terminal. “Retailers work very hard at merchandising and selling more produce, and they count on us to source the right products. Without their energy and ability, we would not be as strong as we are, and the same is true in reverse.”

Mike Badalament, sales associate for R.A.M. Produce Distributors LLC, located at the Detroit Terminal Market, told The Produce News that the company’s expertise is predominantly in tomatoes.

“We also handle peppers, zucchini and other vegetables,” said Mr. Badalament. “We also have a strawberry deal and a kiwifruit program, and we handle some Hispanic items.”

Dominic Russo, buyer and sales associate for Rocky Produce Inc., located on the Detroit Produce Terminal, told The Produce News that the company is heavily into imported product during the first part of the year.

“A lot of our products come in from South America and Mexico this time of year,” said Mr. Russo. “We also have some kiwifruit still coming in from Italy. We go anywhere we have to in order to get our hands on what our customers need.”

WASHINGTON -- Third-party auditors got a black eye Jan. 10 when the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee released a report showing how auditing procedures failed to catch problems in Jensen Farms' operation that led to a massive Listeria outbreak tied to cantaloupe last year.

At least 146 people were infected and 30 people died as a result of the outbreak that was traced back to Colorado-grown cantaloupe.

The new report and a letter to the Food & Drug Administration show Congress's frustration with the performance of third-party audits in the food industry.

WASHINGTON -- After failing to reach a deal on the farm bill last year, Congress will begin writing a bill that specialty crop producers hope can survive the budget-cutting mood on Capitol Hill.

"I expect the House and Senate to work very hard to produce a farm bill before it expires on September 30," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association.

But the challenge will be navigating the complex bill through both chambers of Congress made up of lawmakers who have differing views of agriculture, he explained.