SALINAS, CA -- Markon Cooperative, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States, purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide. But it is the company's level of interaction with those grower- suppliers that it believes offers special value to the consumer. In giving the trade media a tour of Markon's facility, here, and of some of its area suppliers on July 17, Markon President Tim York said that the company's thrust is "products, process and people." Markon member distributor

WALLA WALLA, WA -- Toasty temperatures in the Walla Walla valley eventually pushed the mercury into triple digits, but it did not put a damper on the recent 22nd annual Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival. The free event, held at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds July 14-16, showcased the famous Walla Walla sweet onion, a variety as distinctive as the area in which it is grown and marketed. Anticipating ongoing success and good attendance, this year's event was expanded to more than two days -- the first time in its history. Kathy Fry, marketing director for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing

As the July 24 issue of The Produce News was going to press, it was learned that Keith Frosceno, regional vice president of sales for W. Newell & Co. in Champaign, IL, left that company July 14. The company's Charlie Nealis will be taking over Mr. Frosceno's responsibilities on an interim basis until a permanent replacement can be found, according to Harry Johnson, the company's director of human resources. Asked when a permanent replacement might be named, Mr. Nealis replied, "There's never a timetable. As soon as we can find the right individual, we'll make a decision." Before joining W

KENNEWICK, WA -- Dan Kelly, assistant director of the Washington Growers Clearing House Association in Wenatchee, WA, said July 17 that he expects realistic numbers about summer hail damage to the state's crop of apples, pears and cherries will become available the week of Aug. 7. Mr. Kelly said that preliminary numbers in mid-July were "guestimates," and he indicated that the numbers were most likely on the high side. Estimates were that approximately 1 million boxes of pears will be lost in 2006, and apples are likely to be down somewhere between 10 million to 20 million boxes. "No one has

One month after ownership of the Albertsons chain changed hands, the company has announced that as of July 21 it is closing its on-line shopping and delivery service in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix markets. A company spokesperson said that it was a "strategic business decision" designed to focus the firm's efforts on enhancing the "in- store shopping experience." Albertsons began its on-line grocery shopping service several years ago offering both delivery and pick-up at a store. The announcement came shortly after new owners took over Albertsons and

An infrastructure improvement at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ, consisting of the addition of two new lanes, including a new fast lane, is expected to be completed by mid-August. The improvement is designed to speed the process of getting produce trucks from Mexico across the border into the United States to the warehouses in Nogales. Long waiting times for produce trucks at the border have long been a problem, particularly during the winter when fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico are at their peak and upwards of 1,200 trucks are crossing on a daily basis. Long delays not only