LOS ANGELES -- Some are calling it the British Invasion. First the Beatles, now this.

Tesco, the largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, is planning a major move into the U.S. market, beginning in Southern California and Arizona in 2007. The company made the announcement on Feb. 9, and it is a development that is certain to change the retail landscape here, although just what the nature of the impact will be remains to be seen.

DELTA, CO -- With a short monthlong window from mid-June to mid-July, sweet cherries from Colorado's Western Slope were hitting good volume during the third week of June.

According to Mike Gibson and Harold Broughton of United Marketing Exchange in Delta, CO, the crop was shaping up nicely as harvest neared, and he said that demand was very good.

United Marketing Exchange handles sales for Antelope Hill Orchards, a family operation overseen by Jim Hulteen.

ORANGE, CA -- I had to ask. "How do you find time to do it all?" "During the week, I don't sleep much," was Cristian Calvo's reply. But of course. Mr. Calvo is just 23 years old. Who needs sleep at that age?

Mr. Calvo is Hispanic sales manager at Prime Produce International, here. He is also a student at California State University-Long Beach. He runs a professional photography business on the side. He participates in mountain biking and ocean kayaking, and during the winter he goes skiing at Mammoth Mountain every weekend. And he loves to travel.

WASHINGTON -- With immigration reform in limbo, the border crackdown continuing and planting season around the corner, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's top leaders see the continuing farm labor shortage as the most pressing issues facing growers today.

The association's top leaders met June 23-24 and the top issue on the agenda was the concern over dimming prospects for immigration reform in Congress.

"Labor is the most important challenge facing Florida producers today," FFVA Chairman Tony DiMare said during the two-day meeting.

Kathy Fry, marketing director for the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, said that this year's Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival July 14-16 is going to be a chart-topper. For the first time in its 22-year history, the event has been expanded to more than two days, and admission and parking are free to all attendees.

Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry based in Monterey, CA, announced that Bamford Produce in Toronto has joined the company's distribution network.