WASHINGTON -- The Senate Finance Committee has approved the controversial trade agreement that would eliminate tariffs on goods traded with Central American countries, clearing the way for a Senate floor vote in the next few weeks.

California Giant has launched a national foodservice program for its "Just Strawberries" juice drink. This new initiative is the next step in the product launch based on the strong distribution and increased consumer demand at the retail level for "Just Strawberries.

Salinas, CA-based Classic Salads LLC teamed up with the Salinas Jaycees & Friends for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, which was held June 17-18.

Classic Salads and Salinas Jaycees & Friends together made a sizable donation to the Salinas Relay for Life. Classic's donation helped with relay costs, such as apparel and booth supplies.

All proceeds from the Salinas Jaycees will be donated to The American Cancer Society's Salinas Relay for Life.

READING, PA -- Quietly tucked away in the scenic rolling farm country of southeastern Pennsylvania, independent retailer Redner's Warehouse Markets is doing just fine in this era of retail consolidation. Produce buyer Jim Hickey said that the firm was started in 1970 by Earl and Mary Redner. Today one of their sons, Dick, is company president. Another son, Gary, is executive vice president and heads distribution and buying. He buys meat and is the direct buyer of California produce. "I buy everything north, south, east and west of California," mused Mr. Hickey.

Hoping to capitalize on the "tremendous potential" of the North American produce market, Karatzis Group S.A., a Greek manufacturer of packaging materials marketed under the brand "Hellasnet, with numerous applications in the produce industry, has begun to establish plans to set up a manufacturing facility in the United States.

KANSAS CITY, KS -- Liberty Fruit Co. Inc., here, celebrated its 40th year in business Saturday, June 18, with a wonderful party at its facility.

The name "Liberty" was originated by Issie and Lee Caviar, who had a weekend fruit stand on Highway 50 in the 1950s and '60s. In 1965, Liberty Fruit Co. was founded and opened at the City Market in Kansas City, MO. Mr. Caviar and his wife, Mary, had one stall and sold mostly to the public and later to some small stores. They used a yellow Dodge pickup as their first truck.