WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was set to convene the first of four hearings Feb. 15 on the 2012 farm bill, and specialty crop producers are likely to be closely watching the Senate’s first steps in overhauling the nation’s farm policy.

Lipman, a leading field tomato grower based in Immokalee, FL, announced Feb. 9 that it has acquired Winston-Salem, NC-based tomato distributor Branscomb Produce.

The newly acquired company will join Lipman's network of research and development, farming, packing, processing, repacking and procurement solutions. Eddie Branscomb, his son Ben and Al Yancey will take on an expanded role with Lipman.

Kelly Precythe at Fruit Logistica in Berlin.

At Southern Produce Distributors, it’s all in the family.

Mastronardi’s Fresh Tomato Soup Kit will be featured at the company’s booth during the upcoming SPC Expo in Tampa, FL.

Mastronardi Produce

A new firm, Vision Produce Partners of Texas LLC, located in Pharr, TX, has begun doing business in the Rio Grande Valley with the importation of mangos and limes being its chief activity.

Bill Vogel, president of Tavilla Sales Co. of Los Angeles, is the majority partner of the new firm, with the partnership also including Raul Millan and Ron Cohen of Vision Import Group, River Edge, NJ. The three produce veterans formed the New Jersey partnership several years ago, and the firm works closely with Tavilla in Los Angeles. Now, all three firms will work together.