As part of its ongoing support of locally grown products and farmers, Acme Markets will feature Bill Nardelli of Nardelli Bros. Inc. in Cederville, NJ, in its advertising circulars and in-store signage beginning this season. Acme, whose 140 or so stores represent the Northeast region of the Albertson's chain, "has long been a supporter of New Jersey-grown items," Mr. Nardelli told The Produce News April 29. "We're very pleased to have a national chain take pride in promoting fresh produce from New Jersey. Acme, which was acquired by Alberton's in 2000, has for some years spotlighted a local

PHILADELPHIA - "The cold chain" is a catch phrase in the produce industry, and no one denies its benefits to fresh produce. As the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market develops a design for its new market, initial plans called for entirely maintaining a cold chain to please the most heat-sensitive of any fresh produce commodities. A substantial component of warehouses bearing the label "state-of-the-art and "cold chain is tractor-trailer bays that seal around the edges of a trailer to assure that neither heat nor excessive cold enter a facility to damage product and perhaps generate negative

Agribuys in Torrance, CA, which describes itself as the leading provider of supply chain management software and services to the global perishable foods industry, and Foodconnex Worldwide in Roseville, CA, a provider of technology to companies in the perishables and food retail markets, announced May 2 that they have merged to form FoodLink Online. The merger "has created the leader in supply chain management for perishable foods," combining "the prestigious client lists of both companies, according to a company press release announcing the merger. That "expanded network of buyers provides

WASHINGTON - Some agricultural producers have raised concerns about a new regulation that requires U.S. shippers to be paid for food and other goods destined for Cuba before shipments leave U.S. ports. The U.S. Treasury Department changed its regulations Feb. 22 and now authorizes all exports to Cuba only if payment is received by the seller before the shipment of goods leave the U.S. port. This is especially difficult for perishable commodities because it means all the paperwork must be completed for goods shipped in containers before the ship leaves, said Kirby Jones, president of the U.S

The 2004 Annual Report of the California Tree Fruit Agreement describes the 2004 California tree fruit season as "one of the worst on record." Even though volume for the year was well below the five-year average, the timing of the harvest "would wreak havoc with supplies. Excessive spring and early summer heat brought the crop on too fast, and "for the entire first half of the season, fruit volume on average was 60 percent above normal. According to CTFA President Blair Richardson, from a weather standpoint 2005 has been, so far, "almost the exact opposite of last year, cool and rainy as

NEW YORK - Fast food giant McDonald's launched its new premium Fruit & Walnut Salad May 4 at its Times Square location on 42nd Street and Broadway, here. The product is expected to be added to its menus in restaurants across the country in line with the company's national advertising campaign scheduled to begin on May 10. Details of the event were kept a tight secret until the morning of the launch, when it was heralded with media representatives and industry professionals who were informed and entertained by a list of personalities and celebrities known for their health, fitness and