Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Canada's largest retailer with 1,690 supermarkets nationwide, has restructured its senior produce management team. Mike Venton, who is now in his 29th year at Loblaw, recently became the chain's senior vice president of produce in its produce business unit. Mr. Venton started his career at the age of 16 at a Zehrs store -- one of Loblaw's banners with 55 stores in southern Ontario - in Waterloo and moved into produce part time while he was still in school. He worked his way up to managing the produce department full time and then into store management, advancing all the way

Citing a "short supply of colossals across the country," Sweet Clover Sales Manager Bill Brownfield said from his Walla Walla, WA, office that "it's our time to shine" with jumbos and colossals in both Red Wing reds and Sweet Clover Sweets. Mr. Brownfield said that 25-pound cartons of Red Wing single-centers in jumbos and colossals were moving briskly in early September. Shipping had started Aug. 11, and he said that Sweet Clover will have "continuous sweet yellows through February or March." He noted that supplies are very good. "We have plenty of jumbos in all categories," he said. "We also

Industry veteran Doug Meyer has joined Temecula, CA-based West Pak Avocado as its new vice president of sales and marketing. He will be managing the daily sales and marketing functions of the company. Mr. Meyer told The Produce News that after 13 years with vegetable giant Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA, he made the move because it is "an opportunity to grow my career" and because West Pak is perfectly positioned for its own tremendous growth. "We are poised for increased sales in a number of areas including national retail, foodservice and club stores." He said that West Pak is one of only

Progreso Produce announced an exclusive marketing partnership with Growers Alliance Corp. in Vista, CA, to market a variety of fresh produce, including mangos and onions from Central America and South America. The Growers Alliance relationship expands Progreso's current year-round mango and onion programs and adds additional product volume. The marketing season for mangos will begin in December with mangos from Peru. Mangos will also be available from Brazil and Ecuador during their respective growing seasons. The onion season will begin in October with onions from Peru and Ecuador. Other

Hurricane Ike was expected to at least leave the Texas Rio Grande Valley with some moisture. But the hurricane's fury was entirely directed to the east and north on the Texas coastline, John McClung, president of the Texas Produce Association in Mission, TX, indicated early Sept. 15. "There was no adversity in the produce growing area" of Texas, he said, adding that after Ike cleared Texas Sept. 13, a cold front came into south Texas and left some rain. As to the distribution side of Texas' produce industry, Mr. McClung said that "there is very little going on" in Houston, but "Galveston is a

PHILADELPHIA -- Plenty of golden shovels were on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Philadelphia's new produce terminal market, held here Sept 4. The temperature soared near Philadelphia's record-high of 93 degrees, but no one standing atop a windy, dusty, sandy plot of land in the southwestern part of the city had any real complaints. Finally, what was arguably the biggest day in the city's produce history had arrived. About 100 people were gathered for the groundbreaking were thrilled to see a day that seemed to be out of reach for the last seven years. According to the office of