In what has to be labeled pure irony, the Food Marketing Institute, on behalf of the nation?s food retailers, is protesting skyrocketing electronic transaction fees which it claims retailers have no control over nor any say in determining the size of that charge levied by banks and credit card companies.

Albert?s Organics announced that Mark Zeller has been promoted to sales manager of Albert?s Denver division. He recently joined the company as a project manager.

A 35-year resident of Denver, Mr. Zeller started his produce career as a clerk in 1976 and held a number of different produce positions, including produce and floral merchandiser and director of produce and floral for King Soopers, a Kroger company.

NEWARK, DE " With the U.S. government and the agriculture industry grappling with the issue of acceptable perchlorate levels in agricultural products, the produce industry is keeping an eye on developments as they pertain to the products produced by the nation?s fruit and vegetable growers.

Building on the consumer-focused programs it developed throughout 2004, the Produce Marketing Association is continuing that theme into 2005 starting with its Retail Produce Solutions Conference in Monterey, CA. The conference will be held June 2-4; previously announced dates were June 4-6.

It appears that there is close to universal agreement that inconsistent quality plagues mango exports to the United States and what is truly needed is some type of grade standard. Currently, there are no grade standards for mangos.

However, that situation appears to be headed toward resolution as a spokesman for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service?s Fruit & Vegetable Programs told The Produce News March 2 that a proposed grade standard for mangos would be published in the Federal Register within a matter of days.

The Pride of New York program, the state?s branding program to promote and support agricultural products grown and food products processed within New York state, has launched a newly designed web site to better serve consumers, program members and anyone interested in New York state foods.

The Pride of New York Program?s redesigned web site, www.prideofny.com, now lists more than 1,200 members and offers easy-to-access, searchable information about members and their products. It also provides downloadable membership criteria and marketing information.