Six years of research and development have paid off for produce marketer Pure Fresh with the first harvest and successful retailing of a new blackberry variety, Stella.

After eight months of negotiation that had been tempestuous at times, International Paper Co. of Memphis, TN, completed on Feb. 13 a $3.7 billion acquisition of its chief rival, Austin, TX-based corrugated packaging maker Temple-Inland Inc.

A Feb. 10 ruling by the U.S. Justice Department cleared the last obstacles to the merger. The two companies were among the largest producers of corrugated packaging in North America, with Temple-Inland’s annual revenue of $3.8 billion and International Paper’s annual revenue of $25 billion.

The Idaho Potato Commission this month is running its 21st annual Idaho Potato Lover’s Month retail display contest, with $150,000 in cash and prizes to winning entries.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation has named 21 supermarket retailers as Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Role Models and Champions for 2011 in recognition of their support for the national public health campaign and for PBH.

A total of 9 retailers achieved Role Model status (the top level of recognition) and 12 achieved Champion status.

Robert (Bob) Duncan McDougall

Robert (Bob) Duncan McDougall, a longtime veteran of the Northwest fruit industry and a founding partner of Columbia Mark

IFCO announced the shipment of the 20 billionth pound of produce in an IFCO reusable plastic container was delivered to The Kroger Co.’s distribution center in Delaware, OH. The milestone container of lettuce represents more than 15 years of growth for RPCs in the U.S. produce industry and further demonstrates Kroger’s commitment to sustainability through its use of reusable shipping containers in its supply chain.