In late April, Pleasanton, CA-based Safeway Inc. announced that it had formed Better Living Brands Alliance to market its "O Organics" and "Eating Right" brands to other retail channels in the United States.

James White, president of Safeway's Lucerne Foods Inc. division, will lead the newly formed alliance. He has a lengthy background in the consumer packaged goods sector. Lucerne Foods is a top food manufacturer with programs for private label, co-packing and foodservice.

From coast to coast, Idaho potato fans showed their love for the spud in the Idaho Potato Commission's iTuber Take II Video Contest. Entrants submitted spud-inspired shorts including animated educational videos, horror flicks and documentaries, all vying for a chance to win the $3,000 grand prize.

There are no tomatoes in Valerie Grenier's home garden.

That is not because the 29-year-old does not like them; quite the contrary, she has an unlimited supply of them at her disposal at her job.

Ms. Grenier is the sales and marketing director at Les Serres du St.-Laurent, recognized throughout Quebec by its "Savoura" label and renowned for its premium greenhouse-grown tomatoes.

Bruce Grim, a longtime grower, tree fruit industry leader and lawyer, has been named executive director of the Wenatchee-based Washington State Horticulture Association.

According to WSHA President Mark Holtzinger, Mr. Grim's ability to deliver value in all his previous service to the industry qualifies him well to lead the association, which has represented the tree fruit industry for 104 years. The association serves to advance the industry through both education and legislative-regulatory representation in Olympia, WA.

LINDSAY, CA -- Cal Citrus Packing Co. Inc, a well-known grower-shipper in the California citrus industry, is the newest member of Sunkist Growers, the grower-owned citrus marketing cooperative headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA.

The Texas Produce Association has confirmed its plans to shift its convention from South Padre Island, TX, to McAllen, TX, and that it will take place Sept. 18-20, as reported previously by The Produce News and theproducenews.com.

TPA President John McClung said that Hurricane Dolly, which flooded parts of South Padres Island in late July, caused the rescheduling of the convention from its August date on that island to the September date in the Rio Grande Valley.