Borrowing the line once used by a famous Arkansas resident, former Arkansas retailer Bruce Peterson said, "It's the economy, stupid!" when asked to comment on the recent trend of value pricing that is proliferating in retail produce departments these days. Mr. Peterson, who currently is on the board of directors of Naturipe Farms, launched Walmart's fresh produce division and ran that operation for the better part of two decades. He said that value pricing is not new, but it is a trend. "All retailers are trying to find a way to enhance their price image, given the current economic environment

TAMPA, FL -- The Southeast Produce Council's sixth annual conference and trade show drew more attendees and more expo booths than ever before, while keeping the small, friendly and casual atmosphere that has made the event so popular in the past among attendees and exhibitors alike. "The council will be putting together a post-conference survey within the next week or so," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Monday, March 9. "But overall, it looked pretty good." Preliminary numbers indicated that attendance was "well over 1,200" and could be "right around 1,300," said Mr

VISALIA, CA -- A cartoon illustration of a frog reclining luxuriously in a pot of boiling water graced the program cover for the California Citrus Mutual 2009 Citrus Showcase, along with the words, "Are we cooked yet?" Printed inside the program booklet for the March 5 event was a welcoming message from CCM President Joel Nelsen summarizing the themes to be discussed at various workshop sessions during the day. The cover art, he said, "certainly seems fitting this year as [the] industry battles forces affecting our collective efforts to provide a bountiful crop of citrus" to consumers around

WASHINGTON -- When Congress rewrites food-safety legislation, it must not forget to revamp how the government responds to foodborne outbreaks, United Fresh Produce Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel said March 11 during a congressional hearing. In the first congressional hearing on the topic, the three-hour hearing featured a panel of five experts, who answered questions about how to fix the nation's food-safety laws. "Over the next few months, the Energy and Commerce Committee will move a strong food-safety bill," said committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). Another

Driscoll's Strawberry Associates in Watsonville, CA, has announced that long time sales manager, Tim Youmans, has been promoted to vice president of sales for the company. Mr. Youmans, who has been with Driscoll's since 1999, will head sales for the retail, foodservice, export and wholesale channels, and will head the company's category management team. Mr. Youmans will report to Michael Hollister, senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Tim's new position will give us greater focus and coordination between all of our sales channels," Mr. Hollister said in a March 10 press release.

Bobby Stokes has joined Sunflower Market in Phoenix, AZ, as a full-line buyer for the supermarket chain. He had previously worked as the director of procurement for the retailer. "I happily rejoined the company as a full-line buyer because of the amazing expansion we are experiencing - and growth, despite the economy," he said. "We work as a team - [there are] three full-line buyers - so we all have input and work with all vendors, carriers, etc." Before returning to Sunflower Market, the produce veteran was on a two-year hiatus and spent some time traveling. "I came back to the produce