As of early February, it was looking as though the California asparagus season might get underway earlier than ever due to mild winter weather. But wet and exceptionally cool weather from late February through early March has delayed the crop, making it later than usual rather than earlier. It may also be lighter than normal in volume throughout the season (which typically runs through May), according to some sources.

Robert A. Grimm, co-founder of Grimmway Enterprises Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, and the current president of the operation, died Friday, March 17 of a massive heart attack. He was 54 years old.

TORONTO -- In its quest to become the destination of choice for consumers in a highly competitive Canadian marketplace, Sobey's Inc. has developed a strategy that seeks to leverage its expertise with category management to provide the freshest products possible.

According to Joseph Sbrocchi, senior director of produce, floral and bulk foods for Sobey's, the company will achieve its goal by being focused on food, driven by fresh expertise and supported by incomparable customer care in the right-sized, right-format stores that serve the unique needs of each market.

NEW YORK -- Over 600 exhibiting companies showcased thousands of new products and services at the 13th annual International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, held here March 5-7 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The event drew numerous chefs, restaurant owners, operators, distributors, wholesalers and producers, including members of the fresh produce category.

BRONX, NY -- In an abrupt and somewhat dramatic fashion, the local industry's heavyweight battle for a sprawling vacant warehouse here has been postponed nine days.

The lawsuit was brought by the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association, Inc., here, against New York City's Economic Development Corp., the New York City Business Integrity Commission and one of the market's major customers, Baldor Specialty Foods Inc., also based in the Bronx.

The Oppenheimer Group's Southern Hemisphere pipfruit bill of fare experienced a boost in early March with the arrival of Chilean-grown Asian pears to Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Jerry Kraft, West Coast pipfruit category coordinator for Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer, recently returned from the orchards of Chile where he got a first-hand look at the season's Asian pears.