WASHINGTON -- Advocates are cautiously optimistic that provisions to help secure badly needed agriculture workers for labor-starved U.S. businesses will survive the Senate debate on immigration reform.

The bad news is that advocates are bracing to beat back amendments that could undermine the fragile AgJobs compromise, and will need to fight to ensure agricultural worker provisions survive the back-door deals cut during the conference committee.

Officials representing the cherry and apple industries in the state of Michigan were cautiously optimistic following a May 6 cold frontthat sent much of the state's fruit-growing region into a deep freeze that the low temperatures will not spell disaster for the coming 2006 crops.

Phil Korson, president of the Michigan Cherry Committee, and Denise Yockey, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, agreed that the picture will be fleshed out in mid-June when the U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its 2006 crop estimates.

Max Herbold Inc. in Burley, ID, which has been in the potato packing business for 60 years, is selling its physical facility and will continue in business at a new location, according to Dennis Herbold, the company's president and the son of its founder.

"I am selling the building and physical assets," Mr. Herbold said, "but I did not sell Max Herbold Inc., and we are going to continue to be in business. We will be here until the first of August. After that, we will be in a different location, but Max Herbold Inc. will still be in business."

NOGALES, AZ -- Alicia Bon Martin of Wilson-Batiz LLC was elected chairwoman of the board of directors of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, here, at the organization's annual meeting on Thursday, May 11. Ms. Bon Martin, who has been serving as vice chairwoman of the FPAA board of directors, is the first woman to chair the organization in its 60-year history. She will serve a two-year term.

The Hunts Point market beat city hall.

On midday May 15 came word that New York State Supreme Court Judge Lucy Billings ruled that last fall, New York City was unfair in putting out a bid for a warehouse property next to the Hunts Point market.

The Florida Citrus Commission in Lakeland, FL, hired Ken Keck on May 17 to serve as executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus.

Mr. Keck replaces Dan Gunter, who resigned last month to take an executive position with a private agribusiness company.