ATLANTA - The future of traditional produce wholesalers is limited, and perhaps even dim, according to some in the industry. But a panel of three aggressive and progressive wholesalers at the Produce Marketing Association convention, here, made a strong case for the viability of wholesale fruit and vegetable suppliers.

Reggie Brown, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee in Maitland, FL, said that the response from the retail and foodservice industries to Florida tomato grower's plea to relax standards on tomatoes has already received some positive response.

The committee, backed by those who farm, pack, distribute and market tomatoes from Florida, made the plea just prior to the recent PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta as a result of the damage done to tomato crops by Hurricane Wilma in late October.

On Nov. 4 in the nation's capital, a group of academics got together and discussed whether Wal-Mart has a positive or negative impact on America and the local economies of the towns it enters.

That has been a much-debated topic in city council chambers and county supervisor offices throughout the country. What made this conference unique is that Wal-Mart itself sponsored it and set it up to be as unbiased as possible.

ATLANTA -- Sal Vacca of A.J. Trucco seemed to speak for everyone assembled at the garlic industry's Nov. 6 breakfast at the PMA Fresh Summit when he referred to Chinese garlic as "a thorn in our heart."

Others in attendance at the breakfast echoed Mr. Vacca's lament, and few expressed hope of stemming the tide of Chinese garlic imports that continue to plague U.S. grower- shippers as well as those in Mexico.

As Pink Lady America continues to build on its success as the only apple variety approved by the American Heart Association Food Certification Program, Pink Lady Marketing Director Alan Taylor said, "We're very much interested in branding this product."

The unique characteristics of the apple include a striking pink skin, complex tart-sweet flavor and the ability to maintain a white flesh longer when cut, Mr. Taylor noted, and those attributes make branding a logical move.

"Never in the history of the [California citrus] industry have we been so united," said Philip LoBue, president of LoBue Bros. Inc., a citrus packinghouse in Lindsay, CA, who was elected chairman of the board of directors of California Citrus Mutual at the organization's recent annual meeting.