Lucky Stores was a well-known and respected name in the California supermarket industry for many generations until Albertsons bought the chain and retired the name in 1999. Many thought that Albertsons should have kept the Lucky name, which had a better reputation than the Albertsons moniker, especially in Northern California.

Albertsons has since sold most of its stores to Supervalu, and the 130-store Northern California division was recently purchased by Save Mart Supermarkets, a privately owned central California chain.

The new Washington, DC, office of Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association will be headed by Cathleen Enright, a trade negotiator who has represented American agriculture industry interests in her capacity as deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative as well as previous positions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. State Department.

ANAHEIM, CA -- More than 1,000 produce, floral and foodservice industry representatives attended the Fresh Produce & Floral Council Expo July 24 at the Disneyland Hotel, here.

The oldest event of its kind in the country, the expo is designed to give front-line personnel an inside glimpse at the produce and flowers they sell to consumers each day.

WASHINGTON -- First, Congress found $1.6 billion for specialty crop programs. Now, the same farm bill negotiators have struck a compromise on mandatory country-of-origin labeling that has earned the endorsement of the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association.

Lara Grossman, director of business and marketing development for Tanimura & Antle, said that the company's Father's Day retail promotion with Iceberg lettuce in a baseball themed cello wrap was a big hit.

T&A Chief Executive Officer Rick Antle had wanted a holiday associated with the company, and he chose to "own" Father's Day. So this was an "evergreen" promotion, not a one-time promotion just for this Father's Day holiday.

John Killeen, vice president of sales and marketing for Salinas, CA-based NewStar Fresh Foods, has left the company to join Tanimura & Antle as its new vice president of business development.

Mr. Killeen had worked at Tanimura & Antle several years ago under Ken Silveira, T&A's current president and chief operating officer. Mr. Silveira said that he was sorry to see Mr. Killeen leave the first time and is glad to have him back.