Nonfoods

All 150 members of the Mexican association for companies that grow produce in greenhouses and other covered structures -- known as protected horticulture -- recently committed to becoming certified under the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

It's no surprise that with the current economic conditions, three-quarters of what people eat comes from their home and healthy eating is largely dependent on what food families keep in their kitchens.

Ready-to-eat cereal was the most popular category of online coupon printed in March, according to Coupons.com, the leading network for digital coupons.

With Earth Month underway, Loblaw Cos., Ltd., Canada's largest grocery retailer, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its President's Choice G.R.E.E.N product line with the launch of its first paperless PC G.R.E.E.N Insider's Report, now available online at www.pc.ca.

The upcoming World Tea Expo in Las Vegas next month enables attendees to experience such once-in-a-lifetime events as drinking tea with a Japanese tea master, witnessing a real Chinese tea ceremony, observing how Taiwanese artisans roll oolong or looking in on the ancient art of matcha (green tea powder) making. Additionally, this year, visitors can participate in the show’s first-ever live tea cocktail-mixing competition.

Paul Klutes of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. was elected chair of the Produce for Better Health Foundation's (PBH) board of trustees at its recently concluded 2009 annual meeting, while Andrea Astrachan of Ahold USA was elected vice chairman and Roger Pepperl, of Stemilt Growers, Inc., was named the group’s new secretary/treasurer.

Coca-Cola, the No. 1 sparkling beverage brand among Hispanic Americans, is reaching out to that crucial demographic with “Destapa La Felicidad,” the Latino adaptation of “Open Happiness,” the global integrated marketing campaign it rolled out in January.

Sustainability has emerged as a top priority for many consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies whose products line grocery shelves in stores across the United States. One important way manufacturers are greening their business practices is in the realm of packaging.