Loblaw Cos. Ltd., one of the larger retailers in Canada, has kicked off a new program to promote locally grown Canadian produce.

Called "Grown Close to Home," the program, which was unveiled Aug. 14 and will run through the beginning of September, will be promoted on all Loblaw's outlets that sell produce -- at least 1,000 stores across the country, Mike Venton, the firm's new senior vice president of produce, told The Produce News Aug. 19.

The Southeast Produce Council updated its website earlier this month to give it a fresh, new look, adding some exciting functions that both grower- shippers and retailers should find quite useful.

"The site looks more professional," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Aug. 18, noting that the site (www.seproducecouncil.com) went live just three days before.

PHILADELPHIA -- After seven years of discussions, an agreement was finally reached that will make Philadelphia a pre-eminent produce hub by virtue of a new state-of-the-art produce terminal.

"The deal is done," Sonny DiCrecchio, general manager of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, told The Produce News after he faxed his signature to the proper parties to finally seal the agreement that paves the way to construct the world's most-modern wholesale fresh produce market here.

The Washington Apple Commission voted Aug. 4 to appoint Ken Severn as its interim president. This follows the commission's action to place David Carlson, who served as president of the commission for five years, on administrative leave, effective Sept. 1.

Details about Mr. Carlson's removal as president have been slow to emerge. Personnel matters are protected under Washington's confidentiality guidelines. As a result, detailed background information about the board's decision is not available to the general public.

Marc Glassman Inc., which owns 54 Marc's discount grocery stores in northeastern Ohio and six Xpect discount stores in Connecticut, has purchased the former Cleveland Growers Produce distribution facility in Parma, OH.

MGI Produce anticipates that its new 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art refrigerated complex will be operational by the end of the year.

Oregon's early Italian prune harvest got underway over the Aug. 9-10 weekend in Milton-Freewater, with growers expecting to see a 30 percent reduction in volume this year as the result of spring frost and a lack of pollination.

The late prune harvest follows within a couple of weeks and will run through mid-September, according to Eric Patrick, marketing director for Grant J. Hunt Co., exclusive sales and marketing desk for Blue Mountain Growers in Milton-Freewater.