Produce / Floral

WILMINGTON, Del. - Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang are joining forces with the world's biggest retailer this Halloween season to encourage children to treat themselves to good health by eating a colorful variety of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. ¿ With $12 billion in annual sales, precut, prewashed packaged fruits and vegetables remain the fastest-growing segment in the produce sector, with plenty of room still to grow, according to new research from the International Fresh-cut Produce Association (IFPA).

LANDOVER, Md. ¿ Giant Food of Landover's new Nature¿s Promise line of health-oriented private label products was created specifically to address Giant Food shoppers' demand for a better value offering in organic and natural foods, the chain said yesterday.

With an expertly run specialty cheese section, any retailer can find itself with a major slice of this rapidly fermenting category.

SAN FRANCISCO - The Justice Department's decision not to challenge a February ruling that overturned the Bush administration's ban on hemp-derived foods has opened a way for such products to gain popularity in the United States, said industry observers.

From mined salt and faux caviar to artisan teas and the cheesecake to go with them, new gourmet products are elbowing for shelf space.

PITTSBURGH - Federal investigators say there is no "smoking gun" in their ongoing search for the cause of a salmonellosis outbreak linked to Roma tomatoes that were served at Sheetz convenience stores, according to published reports.

Consumers are turning to the deli for healthy protein-rich meats, cheeses, and meals, sparking what some hope is the start of the department's day in the sun.