Fresh Gourmet, a leading supplier of retail croutons merchandised in produce departments, announced a fresh new look for its packaging. The new bags feature dynamic and energized photography, reflecting the tastes of today's consumer, along with bold traffic-stopping graphics to maximize point-of-sale positioning. With the new packaging, Fresh Gourmet is focused on maintaining its status as a leading crouton company and accelerating its position as one of the faster-growing crouton brands overall. The company is committed to providing the best-tasting, freshest variety of croutons on the

Ciruli Bros. LLC in Nogales, AZ, and Agricola San Isidro, a produce growing and shipping operation in Culiacan, Mexico, owned by Eduardo and Malena Leyson, have entered into a long-term agreement, according to Christopher Ciruli, a partner in Ciruli Bros. Ciruli Bros., exclusive marketing agent for Amex Distributing Co., is a major distributor of mangos and melons, and also brokers an assortment of vegetable items. The San Isidro operation includes the world's largest eggplant plantation. The agreement calls for Ciruli Bros. to market about 1 million packages of eggplant and about 300,000

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of California in Salinas will sponsor a local Florida cooking show and work with Florida retailers to promote DArrigos "Andy Boy" broccoli rabe throughout October. Health benefit information on the links between breast cancer prevention and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli rabe will be found on in-store signage and recipe cards and in local newspapers. Margaret DArrigo-Martin, senior vice president of business development for DArrigo Bros. Co. of California, has teamed up with television celebrity Lou DeAngelis from

Santa Sweets Inc., based in Plant City, FL, has hired Christopher Grallert as its senior vice president of marketing and sales. "Our 'Santa Sweets' and UglyRipe brands have grown fantastically over the years," said Don Long, president of Santa Sweets. With new products on the frontier, we welcome the expertise Christopher Grallert will provide in helping structure Santa Sweets expected growth. With two decades of experience in the fresh produce industry, Mr. Grallert comes to Santa Sweets after working with Dulcinea Farms LLC, first as director of sales, and most recently as director of

BC Hot House Foods Inc. in Surrey, BC, a leader in the greenhouse-grown produce industry, is one of this year's finalists in the 2005 British Columbia Export Awards. The BC Export Awards recognize companies in British Columbia that are leading the province in developing export markets and channels. The awards are comprised of three finalists in seven categories: New Exporter, Advancing Technologies, Consumer Products, Manufactured Products, New Media & Entertainment, Primary Products & Resources and Professional & Services. BC Hot House is one of three finalists in the Consumer Products

According to widespread news reports, investment firms are lining up to bid for Albertsons. Knowledgeable sources are saying that both the real estate which the company owns and its geographic diversity are attractive characteristics for investment firms. The private-equity firms of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Apollo Advisors LP, Bain Capital LLC, Thomas H. Lee Partners and the Carlyle Group are said to have each submitted an initial bid for Albertsons. A newspaper report in Boise, ID, where Albertsons is headquartered, cited unnamed sources who claimed initial bids were due Sept. 5