Wednesday headline roundup - Aug. 27

Headlines snatched from the Web and the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group this morning:


2 plead guilty in Hunts Point gambling ring - Big Apple From the post:

Two men with reputed ties to organized crime pleaded guilty on Tuesday to participating in an illegal gambling ring run out of a wholesale produce market at Hunts Point in the Bronx.

Systems approach for Chilean grape imports - Big Apple Pretty big news here in a FR proposed rule. From the post:

We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow fresh table grapes from Chile to be imported into the continental United States under a systems approach. Currently, as condition of entry, all table grapes from Chile must be fumigated with methyl bromide as a risk-mitigation measure for Brevipalpus chilensis. Under this proposal, we would allow a combination of risk-mitigation measures, or systems approach, to be employed in lieu of methyl bromide fumigation.

Hundreds of workers held in immigration raid NYT reports:

In another large-scale workplace immigration crackdown, federal officials raided a factory here on Monday, detaining at least 350 workers they said were in the country illegally

Cell phones seen as emerging payment device at grocery stores

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Supermarkets may be the next target market for near field communication phones, at least according to presentations during the recent IT Leadership Summit of the National Retail Federation.

One of the presenters, an executive for supermarket chain Cincinnati-based Kroger says NFC phones are a good fit for supermarkets because of their time-saving potential. “Nobody stands in a grocery line because it’s a pleasure. We are looking to shave more than seconds off that line,” he said. He was one of several panelists discussing “Mobility and Near-field Communication - The New Era of Ubiquitous Retailing.”

Chiquita signs deal for China venture From the story:

Under the agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval, Chiquita and Haitong will form Zhejiang Chiquita-Haitong Food Co. Ltd. The venture will operate a food-processing facility in Cixi, China, where it will produce packaged salads, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables and fresh chilled beverages, according to a news release.


Cafeteria trays disappear in bid to fight obesity

Grocers fight to hold on to customers

Survey says shoppers won't compromise on food quality The no-spin zone? Not exactly... a release from Whole Foods:

Whole Foods, the leading natural and organic foods supermarket, today announced results from a recent survey that found, despite rising food prices, nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults (79 percent) say they do not want to compromise on the quality of the food they buy and the majority (70 percent) are continuing to buy the same amount of natural and/or organic foods as they always have.

Immigration: too hot for DNC

Economy making us greener?

Housing recession builds

U.S. Economy: between zero growth and recession

Dole considers investment in Angola

Children Emulate Healthy Eating Patterns of Parents

WIC to offer fresh fruits and vegetables

Wal-Mart Canada expects bigger market share

FDA pursues jalapeno at root of salmonella investigation