Three food-safety bills drafted in response to last year's E. coli outbreak that was traced to Salinas Valley-grown leafy greens appear to have died in the California Legislature.

California state Sen. Dean Florez (D-16th) pushed the bills that would have created a new inspection system for leafy green growers and handlers through the Senate but could not drive them by Assembly member Nicole Parra, a critic of Mr. Florez's legislation and chair of the powerful Agriculture Committee.

A good-sized U.S. grocery chain redid its produce signage a couple of years ago at a cost that probably came close to a half-million dollars -- if not more.

"We did our research, got numerous bids and made our choice," said this chain's vice president of produce, who requested anonymity because going through the channels to get approval for public comments is a time- consuming process.

PHILADELPHIA -- A new refrigerated warehouse in Brooklyn, MI, is serving the interests of sister produce marketing companies in Toronto and Philadelphia. Tom Leonardi, vice president of Fresh Taste Produce USA & Associates Inc., here, said that the warehouse, which is operating as a separate company called Produce Depot, is being used in a variety of consolidation, shipping and marketing means by his firm and Fresh Taste Produce Ltd. in Toronto. The Michigan location is primarily geared to help Toronto's logistics, Mr.

Its harvest is some three months away, but a new late-season green seedless table grape called Pristine is creating a stir.

Pristine was developed by Delano, CA-based Anton Caratan & Son after more than 20 years and more than 225,000 crossbreeds. The result is a new late variety that produces large, crispy grapes that have characteristics retailers covet, including long shelf life.

Western Growers Association, which recently opened an office in Washington DC, descended upon the nation's capital in large numbers the last week of June as it held a board meeting there for the first time.

NEW YORK -- An impressive group of executive chefs, food consultants, editors and executives came together June 21 in New York City to judge the Florida Tomato Committee's annual "Best of the Best" recipe contest. The event is open to student culinary chefs in both the United States and Canada, and winners are chosen from both countries.