MONTEREY, CA -- A panel of industry leaders came together for the opening general session at the Produce Marketing Association's 2006 Foodservice Conference & Exposition to share insights into how to best corral the considerable opportunities that exist to increase the sale of fresh produce to foodservice.

SALINAS, CA -- Markon Cooperative, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States, purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide.

WALLA WALLA, WA -- Toasty temperatures in the Walla Walla valley eventually pushed the mercury into triple digits, but it did not put a damper on the recent 22nd annual Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival.

The free event, held at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds July 14-16, showcased the famous Walla Walla sweet onion, a variety as distinctive as the area in which it is grown and marketed.

As the July 24 issue of The Produce News was going to press, it was learned that Keith Frosceno, regional vice president of sales for W. Newell & Co. in Champaign, IL, left that company July 14.

KENNEWICK, WA -- Dan Kelly, assistant director of the Washington Growers Clearing House Association in Wenatchee, WA, said July 17 that he expects realistic numbers about summer hail damage to the state's crop of apples, pears and cherries will become available the week of Aug. 7.

One month after ownership of the Albertsons chain changed hands, the company has announced that as of July 21 it is closing its on-line shopping and delivery service in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix markets.

A company spokesperson said that it was a "strategic business decision" designed to focus the firm's efforts on enhancing the "in- store shopping experience."