WASHINGTON — Effective May 24, Fresh Express pre-packaged salads were being sold nationwide with a new produce wash, Fresh Rinse, which Chiquita Brands International/Fresh Express said is 1 million times more effective than chlorine in wiping out E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella.

LOS ANGELES -- In anticipation of the release of Columbia Pictures' and Sony Pictures Animation's “The Smurfs,” set to open in theaters July 29, Gourmet Trading Co. is bringing the iconic characters to their packages of California and Oregon blueberries.

Labels featuring the Smurfs will also include a code for a gift-with-purchase offer.

Just in time for summer fun and delicious berries, California Giant Berry Farms has teamed up with America’s favorite pastime for its new Giant Fans of Baseball promotion, running from May 23 through July 11.

SALINAS, CA -- The Grower-Shipper Association of Central California held its annual meeting Thursday, May 26, at Corral de Tierra Country Club, here, where Sam McKinsey of Green Giant Fresh by Growers Express was inaugurated as its new chairman of the board in front of more than 100 members and dignitaries.

ATLANTA -- To help kick off the Produce for Kids 2011 Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign in all Publix stores on June 2, Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan was in Alpharetta, GA, on May 24 for a special kickoff event. Ms. Scanlan was joined by children from area Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and local community members to prepare garden vegetable pasta, one of PFK's Ideal Meals, at the Publix Cooking School.

Calavo Growers Inc. announced May 26 that it has signed an agreement for the acquisition of Renaissance Food Group LLC, a closely held fresh-food company that produces, markets and distributes nationally a portfolio of healthy, high-quality lifestyle products. The transaction, which is expected to close on June 1, is for a combination of cash and stock, including earn-out payments based on financial performance. Terms were not further disclosed.