The Perishables Group, an independent consulting firm specializing in the fresh foods industry, has a new agreement with BI LO and Bruno's to provide the necessary data and tools for a customized perishables performance tracking and category development program. The agreement will enable BI LO/Bruno's and its supplier partners to gain new insights into category performance across the perishables departments including produce, meat, seafood, deli and bakery. "This level of information has historically not been available in perishables," Michael Yakovsky, group vice president of perishables

The Vidalia Onion Committee has designed three new brochures and point-of-sale cards available to growers and packers, produce managers, the public and anyone else wanting to find out about Vidalia onions and how to prepare them. Vidalia Onions - Just the Sweet Facts is an informative brochure that tells all about the history of Vidalia onions, interesting facts, growing season and availability, planting and harvesting, and how to store and save. Favorite Vidalia Onion Recipes is a brochure featuring simple "down home" Southern recipes that highlight the sweet flavor of Vidalia onions.

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. in Coral Gables, FL, announced that it will partner with Disney to promote the upcoming DVD release of "Leroy & Stitch," the newest adventure from the original "Lilo & Stitch" series. "We are very excited about this promotional tie-in with Disney because it promotes the release of the DVD in a fun way that encourages kids to eat more healthy fruits, and in this case, our delicious Del Monte Gold extra sweet pineapple," Matt Smith, vice president of marketing, said in a statement . Consumers can get a $3 rebate off the "Leroy & Stitch" DVD with the purchase of

WASHINGTON -- A Senate subcommittee found fewer funds for specialty block grants and the fruit and vegetable snack program compared to the House's spending bill, but the produce industry pledged to push the funding levels back up during conference. Western Growers Association praised Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D- CA), Larry Craig (R-ID) and other members of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee for securing $10 million in funding for Specialty Crop Block Grants in the Fiscal Year 2007 Agriculture Appropriations bill. While an increase over the $7 million Congress provided last year

Peter Rabbit Farms in Coachella, CA, was recently named vendor of the year at Marsh Supermarket's annual Fresh Perspectives event. Fresh Perspectives is an annual opportunity for the Marsh Supermarket produce managers to come together for a day of education and inspiration. It is also the annual award event for the chain's produce managers. This is the second time Peter Rabbit Farms has been honored with the award, with the first being in 2003. "Peter Rabbit Farms is the first to earn this award more than once and we are very honored by this recognition from Marsh Supermarkets," Suzanne Powell

Although much of my produce career was spent in New York, I was born and raised in Cleveland. I can remember the time my father took me to my first Major League Baseball game when I was 8. Not only was it the most exciting and thrilling time of my life, it was also the most impressive. After standing in line to buy tickets, my dad took me by the hand and we walked up through the stadium entrance to the field. As we entered the old Municipal Stadium, I was in awe at the vision of the playing field and vastness of the stadium. After all, as kids living in a big city, we only had an alley lot