Both food suppliers and food retailers are in relatively good shape and should see modest sales and price gains in 2009, according to two economists who participated in a recent webinar sponsored by the Food Marketing Institute. Ephraim Leibtag, who works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, and Kenneth Zaslow, a food analyst with BMO Capital Markets, looked at food prices and costs from a historical perspective and concluded that the sector is in much better shape than many other segments of the economy. In fact, Mr. Zaslow said that he expected no bankruptcies

The Produce for Better Health Foundation has named Stemilt Growers Inc., based in Wenatchee, WA, the first company to attain its Non-Retail Role Model honors for its support of the Fruits & Veggies - More Matters health initiative. The formal announcement of Stemilt's role model status will be made at the foundation's board of trustees meeting April 3 in Monterey, CA. Stemilt Growers Inc., a family-owned tree fruit grower-packer-shipper, is a leading Washington-grown sweet cherry shipper that also ships Washington- grown apples and Northwest pears. In 1914, the Mathison family began planting

Ito Packing Co. Inc. in Reedley, CA, once one of the larger fruit-packing operations in California, has suspended its packing operation and discontinued its sales and marketing activities but will continue to grow fruit. Craig Ito, the company's president, told The Produce News that Ito Packing will no longer be packing or marketing fruit, confirming rumors and speculation to that effect from several sources. As reported previously in The Produce News, at least two members of the Ito Packing sales staff have moved to other companies in the industry, and several hundred acres of Ito's extensive

Flooding in the Red River Valley, reported on some national news outlets, is having no impact on Red River Valley potato growers, according to Ted Kreis, marketing director for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, based in East Grand Forks, MN. Mr. Kreis told The Produce News March 23 that the flooding is "upstream" around Fargo, ND. "Upstream" on the Red River Valley is unique in the United States as a southerly direction for a major river. The Red River of the north flows north into Canada. Mr. Kreis said that all of the valley's potatoes are in storage and that no storages are

BOERNE, TX -- Progreso Produce recently announced an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Clear Springs Packing LLC in Bartow, FL, to market blueberries, watermelon, strawberries and cantaloupe. The new relationship provides ancillary sales and sourcing support from Progreso Produce while maintaining the current sales staff, company name and labels of Clear Springs Packing. The Clear Springs relationship builds on Progreso's current watermelon interests in Florida and further solidifies its year-round presence while also adding additional products and facilities. The first product to

WATSONVILLE, CA -- California Giant Berry Farms is teaming up with two heavy hitters -- the Major League Baseball Player Alumni Association and the Tennis Channel -- for a Sweet on Sports promotion this spring. The retail promotion includes separate programs featuring each partner for a total of 20 weeks. Sweet on Sports supports the healthy, active lifestyle consumer message that California Giant said it promotes through its full line of berries. From April 1 through May 31, California Giant clamshells will feature "A Sweet Lineup" with the Major League Baseball Player Alumni Association. In