The Packer Extra - Aug. 25

Here are the items from The Packer Extra email newsletter this morning....




FDA finds salmonella at eight U.S. firms
The Food and Drug Administration has completed its first round of sampling produce items found in fresh salsa, and at least eight domestic companies had products that tested positive for salmonella. Go here for the story:
http://www.elabs3.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=ikv,xxf0,4hgn,a0hg,2afx,df8d,kcoe


Industries dispute exclusion of nuts, dried fruit
While representatives of the nut and dried fruit industries are upset that they were excluded from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's fresh fruit and vegetable snack program in the 2008 farm bill, fresh produce industry advocates say those commodities were never intended to be part of the $1 billion initiative. Go here for the story:
http://www.elabs3.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=ikv,xxf0,4hgn,j3za,kh5n,df8d,kcoe



Six L's introduces heirloom-style tomato
A new heirloom-style tomato is making its way to retail shelves. The Vintage Ripe tomato, grown and shipped by Six L's Packing Co. Inc., Immokalee, Fla., hit stores in mid-August in bulk and in four-pack clamshells. Go here for the story:
http://www.elabs3.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=ikv,xxf0,4hgn,9pdf,6gz3,df8d,kcoe


Pineapple yields drop, prices soar
A phenomenon known as natural flowering has put a dent in late summer supplies of pineapples. Prices are up as much as 50% compared to f.o.b.s a year ago, and they could go higher, some importers said. Go here for the story:

http://www.elabs3.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=ikv,xxf0,4hgn,j5wg,bu25,df8d,kcoe



Giant, Stop n' Shop launch changes chainwide
On Aug. 22, customers started seeing traces of the new look for Giant and Stop & Shop supermarkets. A new logo, employee uniforms, redesigned store platforms and new features such as enhanced fresh prepared foods and a "family-friendly" checkout lane are part of changes scheduled to take place . . . Go here for the story:
http://www.elabs3.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=ikv,xxf0,4hgn,l3oc,18rm,df8d,kcoe