Summer Holidays

NEW YORK - Consumer confidence in U.S. beef appears to have remained high over the Memorial Day weekend, despite reports of a Canadian cow testing positive for BSE and record high wholesale prices for beef, leading industry analysts said this week.

CHICAGO - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the nation's first statewide ban on ephedra and urged other states and the federal government to do the same.

AUSTIN, Texas - As eager Americans begin firing up their grills this season, Whole Foods Market is kicking off a national celebration to showcase natural meat.

CINCINNATI, -- The Kroger Co. today announced that it is teaming up with Newman's Own to support America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization.

CHICAGO - Consumer prices for steaks and other beef items may increase in the next few weeks as record-high wholesale beef prices reach supermarkets, livestock analysts said on Friday.

NORWALK -- City officials yesterday granted the troubled Calf Pasture Beach concession to Stew Leonard Jr., who outbid two local food preparers to operate the neglected facility for the next two summers.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said today it expects its May same store sales to increase between one and three percent.

NEW YORK - Shares of Pathmark Stores Inc. slumped after an analyst at C.L. King & Associates cut his earnings estimates for the grocer and downgraded the stock from a "buy" to a "neutral" rating, according to a Dow Jones report.