Victor Shiroma, owner of Shiroma Farms, may have gone picking vegetables yesterday morning, when his all-terrain vehicle was discovered missing and a crate of vegetables found off one of the farm's service roads, said Fire Capt. Richard Soo.

The family called for help just before 8 this morning, and the fire department dispatched a helicopter and 10 crew members for the search. They joined four of Shiroma's relatives using farm vehicles to search the fields and surrounding areas, beneath the Kipapa bridge.

Family members are especially worried since heavy rains caused gulch streams to flood over the weekend, Soo said. Also, Shiroma suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes and may have been without medication for two days.