WASHINGTON -- A Senate vote cast Nov. 16 failed to end the stalemate on the 2007 farm bill, a move that could jeopardize the hard-fought funding reforms for specialty crop programs this year.

Steve Kenfield, who joined SunFed in Nogales, AZ, as vice president of sales and marketing about a year ago and who was quickly promoted to president, has now returned to California's San Joaquin Valley and accepted employment at The HMC Group Marketing in Kingsburg, CA. Before going to SunFed, he had been president of Ripe 'N Ready in Parlier, CA, for several years. Previously he was president of Kings Canyon-Corrin LLC in Reedley, CA.

MAUI, HI -- Bob Gray of Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. in Salinas, CA, was elected chairman of the board of Western Growers at its 82nd annual meeting, held here, Monday, Nov. 12.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Social Security Administration has agreed to not send divisive "no match" letters this year but is planning to mail them in February or March of 2008, depending on the outcome of federal litigation, according to Mark Hinkle, SSA spokesperson.

The California division of the Natural Resources Conservation Service has recognized Jesus Castillo for his outstanding contributions to environmentally responsible farming.

He was a small farmer in his native Jalisco, Mexico, and since he arrived in the Santa Maria, CA, area, he has used his years of experience to make a living growing strawberries and tomatillos.

Attendees at this year's annual meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Association are in for a rare treat on Dec. 3. They are scheduled to get a private screening of the new documentary, Gee Whiz: the Story of Grady Auvil.

Filmmaker Jamie Howell and co-producer Jeff Ostenson have captured an intense snapshot of the larger-than-life figure who introduced the Granny Smith apple to Washington's Wenatchee Valley. Intense work on the project also revealed a man who was obsessed with efficiency and had a few quirky takes on just about everything.