QUEBEC CITY, QC -- Although the slogan for the Quebec Produce Marketing Association's 62nd annual convention was "Embracing a Culture of Change," many things about the Quebec produce industry have not changed, especially its hospitality, warmth and camaraderie.

Over 500 members of the trade turned out to network with old friends and make new ones at the event, held here Aug. 20-22 at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Canada's largest food distributor, announced that its subsidiary, Loblaws Inc., had purchased all of the common shares of Richmond, BC-based T&T Supermarket Inc., one of Canada's larger Asian food retailers, for $225 million (Canadian).

B.E. (Buster) Giovanetti, a longtime California grower, shipper and distributor who was very active in the western produce industry, died Aug. 22 in Woodland, CA, where he resided. He was 94.

Just three months ago, Mr. Giovanetti told this reporter from his Northern California office that he wouldn't retire until "they drive the last spike in the box." He got his wish, as he was active in his family-run business until the end.

As part of its growing commitment to the Canadian market, Tanimura & Antle has added two industry veterans to help bolster its presence in Canada.

CHICAGO -- At the U.S. Apple Association Outlook 2009 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference, held here Aug. 20-21 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, a consensus of the apple producers and handlers present was that the U.S. Department of Agriculture total U.S. apple crop estimate of 240,786,000 42- pound units, which includes fruit for both the fresh market and for processing, was a little high.

"The deal is going pretty well," Chuck Olsen, president of The Chuck Olsen Co. in Visalia, CA, said Aug. 18. Industry shipments to date for fresh grapes out of California's San Joaquin Valley were running around 2.6 million boxes ahead of last year, he noted.

"We have, overall, a much higher quality of grape this year -- not just us, but everybody does," he said. "Fruit is moving a little better, and prices are a little better."

The grapes have better size and color as well as better eating quality than last year, he said.