Price has long been the main driver that suppliers have used to entice retailers to promote their products, but it's not the only factor -- and maybe not even the best one.

There are at least a half-dozen different reasons that drive a consumer's decision to buy fresh produce, according to Stacey Larson, president of Consumer Effects, a Rocklin, CA-based company that designs and implements retail promotion programs for fresh produce.

Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. N.A. Inc. in Coral Gables, FL, is looking to fire- up this summer season's produce sales by partnering with Char-Broil for the "Fresh Grill Thrill" Sweepstakes.

Earthbound Farm and parent company San Juan Bautista, CA-based Natural Selection Foods have settled out of court with a woman who claimed that an Earthbound manager trespassed on her property, took clippings from her rare, heirloom apple tree and propagated a 150-tree apple orchard for Natural Selection's own benefit.

"The Florida cabbage deal is winding down. It's pretty much finished for us," Terry Granzier, president of Lakeside Produce Distribution Inc., told The Produce News May 14.

The firm, which is based in Westlake, OH, was "moving into the Memorial Day push" in mid-May. This cabbage will be shipped from southern Georgia. North Carolina cabbage is to begin in early June.

"The crop looks nice, but freight is an absolute bear right now," he said. "Our only big issue now is trucking. Rates have gone through the roof."

The international papaya importer and distributor HLB Tropical Food is seeing an increase in papaya production from Brazil after the South American nation experienced a shortage in Golden papaya production in April, which drastically affected the North American and European markets.

HLB's imports from Brazil to the United States dropped a staggering 51 percent in April. The situation in Europe was similar, especially affecting the Easter holiday sales. HLB's growers maintain that production has increased and is now back to its normal output.

SALINAS, CA -- By the end of May, the largest U.S. lettuce shipper will have cut 40 percent of its top management positions, closed its Mexican growing operation, ceased growing and selling lettuce destined for conventional fresh-cut processing, and greatly reduced its asparagus shipping program.