Imagination Farms in Indianapolis has expanded its distribution by adding William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. in Lake Success, NY, to its list of "Disney Garden" brand premium suppliers.

Brandt Farms Inc. in Reedley, CA, and Delicious Foods LLC in Fresno, CA, have announced the formation of a new joint venture company, Brand-DF LLC, that will market and sell California stone fruit under the "Sunsweet Fresh" brand.

The "Sunsweet" brand is owned by Sunsweet Growers Inc., a grower cooperative headquartered in Yuba City, CA. Delicious Foods uses the "Sunsweet Fresh" brand for fresh products under a licensing agreement with Sunsweet Growers, according to Mike Pereira, managing director of Delicious Foods.

CARTERET, NJ -- Pathmark Stores Inc. announced Feb. 27 that it is engaged in negotiations to be acquired by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. at a possible price of $12.50 per Pathmark share to be paid in cash and A&P stock.

No final agreement has been reached and there can be no assurance that any such agreement will be reached. If a final agreement is reached, it will be subject to a number of uncertainties and conditions. Among such conditions would be shareholder and regulatory approvals, including federal and state antitrust clearances.

A new Mississippi River casino and continuing development are revitalizing downtown St. Louis.

According to the gaming company Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., headquartered in Las Vegas, it is building a $430 million project located on its site at Laclede's Landing, near the famed Gateway Arch. This will feature a large casino, a 200-room luxury hotel, spa, business center, fine restaurants and 12,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.

Thermal, CA-based North Shore Greenhouses Inc. has hired Donald Souther as sales manager.

Mr. Souther replaces Tom Kueneman, sales and marketing manager for the past two years, who left the company recently to pursue an opportunity outside the produce industry.

Having opened a number of new markets in recent years, California's fresh grape industry is now eyeing Russia as a potentially lucrative place to export fresh California grapes.

Susan Day, vice president of international marketing for the California Table Grape Commission in Fresno, CA, traveled to Russia in late February to meet with U.S. trade officials and Russian produce importers. She also met with importers and exporters from all over the world in Berlin, Germany, at Fruit Logistica, an international trade fair for fruit and vegetable marketing.