The California Department of Food & Agriculture announced Sept. 13 that no further action would be taken against Ralph's Grocery Co. for violations involving the grocery chains alleged false advertising of Mexican-grown grapes as Californian-grown grapes.

When launching its new line of premium chicken sandwiches in early August, fast-food restaurant giant McDonald's Corp. made sure that consumers will be getting high-quality produce in every bite.

The new sandwich line, which includes the Classic, Ranch BLT and Club, all contain tomatoes and green leaf lettuce, which the company has promoted in recent press releases.

National Apple Month has kicked off its 2005 Retail Display Contest with a new national focus that should help supermarkets across the country boost apple sales and keep apples top of mind for consumers throughout the year.

This year's contest began Sept. 1 and will run through November, according to NAM Director Kay Rentzel. It is open to all retailers in the United States as well as all military commissaries in this country and abroad.

Baby Fresh of Guatemala is enjoying robust sales through a direct deal in shipping prepackaged baby vegetables to the Central Market chain, which is owned by H.E. Butt Grocery Co., headquartered in San Antonio, TX.

Baby Fresh owner Antonio Maldonado told The Produce News Sept. 7 that his sales are strong in the upscale six-store Texas chain, which has locations in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Plano and Dallas.

MONTE VISTA, CO  With its potato acreage at 58,100 this fall season, Colorado's San Luis Valley has pared its planted ground by nearly 20,000 acres in the last decade.

In 1996, Colorados fall crop acreage was at 77,800, but it declined to 76,900 the next season. In 1998 it dropped again to 75,700 acres, but bounced up slightly to 77,000 acres in 1999.

By Aug. 30, the 103.2 million-box Washington apple crop of 2004, one of the larger on record, was down to 1.6 million boxes remaining in storage, and projections are for a 7 percent reduction in the fresh crop size this season.

The smaller crop of 95 million boxes, which might yet be reduced depending on fruit size as the season continues, is being described by industry members as welcome news.