Recently, a number of Western shippers received debit memos from Canada Safeway as a result of back audits that are two or three years old. Apparently, independent auditors have looked at the retailer's books including invoices, bills of lading and warehouse documentation, and determined that there were discrepancies in what was paid for and what was received. The retailer has sent debit memos to shippers covering shipments as far back as 2003. One shipper told The Produce News that his company has not received any of these debit memos from Canada Safeway, but he has heard of similar efforts

Three Mexican greenhouse operations have joined to form a new marketing company. Agros S.A. de C.V. in Queretaro, Cris-P Greenhouses S.A. de C.V. in Sinaloa and Sonora, and Agrizar-Comercializadora Zarattini S.A. de C.V. in Guanajuato have formed a new venture called Greenhouse Produce Co. LLC, located in Mission Valley, TX. The new organization will be marketing all greenhouse produce grown by the three independent producers and affiliated companies. Both Agros and Cris-P have been producing quality greenhouse tomatoes for over a decade, while Agrizar-Zarattini, which started operations three

The Peruvian fresh asparagus import community continues to be a viable and important part of building the U.S. market for fresh asparagus, and is working diligently with its exporters to make even further progress in several areas. The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association recently adopted a mission statement and focused on improving the market for Peruvian fresh asparagus and serving as a facilitator for key industry issues. The mission statement will help direct activities already underway and to kick off a strong season. The adopted mission statement reads, "The Peruvian Asparagus

The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association has joined the Produce Marketing Association to develop a closer working relationship with the various members that constitute a majority of asparagus sales in the retail and foodservice market segments. In 2003, supermarket sales of fresh asparagus were estimated at $543 million, or more than 1 percent of total produce department sales. Sales through the foodservice sector are currently estimated at more than $200 million annually. Part of the message PAIA will communicate through its membership in PMA is the dramatic increase in the consumption of

SALINAS, CA -- Though in its ninth year, the award-winning "Wholeaves" product line of Mills Family Farms, here, has much room for growth, say brothers Jim and Dave Mills, co-senior vice presidents of the company. Mills has spent much time refining the production process and concentrating its "Wholeaves marketing efforts on foodservice. The Arby's restaurant chain is an example of a national foodservice account that uses the "Wholeaves line. Its forays into retail are more recent in the line's history, but the line of nine- and 10-ounce retail bags of "Wholeaves promises to expand. The

Spongebob Squarepants, the beloved cartoon character, will soon appear on retail packages of Boskovich Farms spinach as "Spongebob Squarepants Spinach." On license from Nickelodeon, Spongebob is set to make his debut during the second week of August, with rollouts in California, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Chicago markets. The Oxnard, CA-based grower-shipper-processor of premium quality produce items is primarily targeting parents who are looking for easy ways to offer their children more nutritious foods. "Getting children to eat healthier has always been a struggle for parents. Spongebob, one of