HOUSTON -- Seald Sweet International LLC, based in Vero Beach, FL, has gained a lot of publicity in recent years for being a subsidiary of Uni-Veg Group, based in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium, which operates in 22 countries, owns dozens of major produce companies around the world and is linking those firms, including Seald Sweet, to be a global produce network.

Contrary to what might be expected, the Federal Trade Commission has not stopped its efforts to block the merger of Whole Foods Markets and Wild Oats, even though the acquisition has been completed.

The FTC went to court this summer to block the acquisition, and it initially lost the case. However, the commission filed an appeal in the District of Columbia's Court of Appeals and received a temporary injunction that temporarily stalled the efforts of Whole Foods. Eventually, the judge in the case vacated the stay and allowed the acquisition to move forward, which it did.

Reliable Organics, an organic tomato-farming company based in Cedar Creek, TX, has reached terms for $2 million in funding from the investment firm Venio Capital Partners.

The funding will enable Reliable Organics to more than double its current production of locally grown organic greenhouse tomatoes the first year and then double again in 2008. The facility is currently a half-acre in size, and will expand to a full acre. It will produce approximately 10,000 pounds per week per acre.

PACA creditors who were owed about $500,000 were close to reaching a settlement agreement with ATS LLC (formerly known as Arkansas Tomato Shippers), which suspended operations the third week of October.

Priscilla Grannis of the law firm Rynn & Janowsky told The Produce News Oct. 31 that every time the phone rings, "I hope it is the debtor's counsel accepting the terms of an agreement. I am hopeful that we can get it done by the end of this week; if not, then early next week."

Keith Mathews assumed the position of executive director of the Yakima Growers-Shippers Association in Yakima, WA. He was selected Oct. 15 following the resignation of former Executive Director Miles Kohl, who is now working in the private sector for Allan Bros. in Nachez, WA.

Mr. Mathews is no stranger to the organization. In the early 1990s, he was responsible for a number of fiduciary programs, including self-insurance programs, for growers and shippers in southern Washington. "As the warehouses became larger, the focus changed," Mr. Mathews noted.

The crew of the popular television food show "Bringing It Home with Laura McIntosh" paid a visit to Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms Oct. 24 to film a segment that features Chef Tony Baker cooking artichokes and asparagus in one of Ocean Mist's fields. The piece is scheduled to air sometime this spring.

Ms. McIntosh's crew visited Ocean Mist's booth at the PMA Fresh Summit in Houston. Kori Tuggle, marketing manager for Ocean Mist, said that the Fresh Summit filming of Ocean Mist is destined for use on "food-oriented web sites."