Safeway Inc. announced that it has transitioned to using reusable product containers rather than corrugated boxes to ship many types of produce from the farm fields, through the distribution channel and to final store destination. This transition eliminated the use of over 17 million pounds of corrugated boxes.

Bill Marler, the Seattle attorney who has become renowned for handling litigation related to foodborne illnesses, told a webinar audience that included many other lawyers that he turns down many more cases than he files.

Gary Margolis, owner and president of Gem Tomato & Vegetable Sales Inc., headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, said that the Arkansas tomato crop is about 10 days ahead of schedule, and with excellent quality and yields.

VINELAND, NJ — The Fresh Wave has signed a deal to enhance the stature of fresh blueberries as the top item in terms of volume at the company, which is headquartered here in southern New Jersey.

The company is for the first time the exclusive distributor of blueberries from Farmer John LLC, based in Alma, GA, The Fresh Wave’s Tom Consalo told The Produce News at the very end of May.

As the Northwest fruit season ramps up, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, is seeing good sizing and excellent quality in all crops.

Oneonta Marketing Director Scott Marboe said on June 5 that cherries were set to start the week of June 10, followed by early apricots the end of the month.

“The cherry crop is shaping up nicely,” Mr. Marboe said. “Bloom weather was perfect, and the growing season so far has been ideal.”

KEVIN EICHELE joined Watsonville, CA-based Monterey Mushrooms last November as Western region director of sales and is working from his home office in Lagun