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Washington, D.C. ¿ In response to the Center for Science in the Public Interest¿s (CSPI) call earlier this week for restrictions on consumers¿ food choices, the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) labeled the consumer group¿s recommendations as unecessary.

WASHINGTON - The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) yesterday endorsed legislation that would strengthen the criminal statute against trafficking in counterfeited goods.

WASHINGTON - Officials of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and the National Restaurant Association have formed a joint initiative to help the produce and restaurant industries work together to enhance quality assurance for fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the supply chain from field to table.

MINNEAPOLIS - In a bid to shore up its third-party logistics capability, Supervalu, Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire Total Logistics, Inc., a national provider of integrated third-party logistic services with calendar 2004 nine-month revenues of $253 million.

CAMDEN, N.J. and WATERBURY, Vt. - At a time when commodity prices have increased and energy costs continue to soar, Campbell Soup Company and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. have become the latest CPG manufacturers to serve price increases to the market.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Publix Super Markets here has said it will launch a store-brand line of Hispanic products the first quarter of this year, according to published reports.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Spartan Stores, Inc. has completed an amendment to its existing financing agreement with Congress Financial (a subsidiary of Wachovia Corp.) and terminated its Supplemental Secured Credit Facility with Kimco Realty Corp.

Their rep as superfoods more solid than ever, fresh berries are poised to surmount the barriers of price spikes and seasonality.