Industry Advocacy

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials on Thursday said President Bush will seek an 11 percent increase in the US Agriculture Department's 2004 food safety budget to strengthen protections against harmful bacteria in food and increase security at laboratories, The Boston Globe reports.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association will launch a new internet-based government advocacy program -- the United Produce Industry Grassroots Action Network -- at its Annual Produce Business Conference and Expo, Feb. 21-24, 2003, in Long Beach, Calif.

MILWAUKEE - The new owner of Miller Brewing Co. is replacing John Bowlin as the chief executive and president of the second largest U.S. brewery.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. is launching a marketing campaign to educate customers about the nutritional benefits of eating more dairy foods. Kroger will feature 3-A-Day messaging, which is part of an ongoing integrated marketing/education program by the American Dairy Association/National Dairy Council.

NEW YORK - Noah Hanft, general counsel for MasterCard International, has issued a statement concerning MasterCard's arguments for dismissing the Wal-Mart lawsuit against MasterCard and Visa.

WASHINGTON - The backers of the 5 A Day for Better Health program, which advocates produce consumption, is at odds with the dairy industry over a new 3-A-Day for Stronger Bones campaign the diary group is launching this month, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution reports.

SAN FRANCISCO - Environmentalists have sued the federal government to prevent it from labeling tuna "dolphin safe" if fishermen encircled the dolphins to make the catch.

BAYTOWN, Texas - Residents in a neighborhood near Houston, Texas are circulating a petition to get a supermarket built in their area, The Baytown Sun reports. Only three small convenience stores with a limited number of groceries currently serve the West Baytown area.