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WASHINGTON -- Following the highly successful launch of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association's Retail Produce Manager Awards Program in 2005, the association, based here, said it plans to expand the awards program to 20 store-level recipients in 2006, and include their corporate produce directors in formal recognition at the 2006 United Produce Show at FMI.

CHICAGO -- With gasoline costs soaring and projected to only rise higher, the average U.S. consumer is reconsidering purchasing decisions. So far, some of them are purchasing more CPG products, which bodes well for grocers.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc., said yesterday that, starting this month, it has expanded its previously seasonal Golden Gift community-giving program into a yearround initiative, using automation tied to its loyalty card program to more easily track consumer purchases and charitable donations.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc.'s "Retail Management Training Track" won the Food Marketing Institute's (FMI) Maximizing People Potential (Maxx) Award, which recognizes an exceptional human resources or training program that significantly enhances employee performance or leads to accomplishment of a key business goal.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Food and Drug Administration is cautioning consumers to avoid eating certain pre-packaged salads made by Dole Food Co., because 11 people here were sickened by a serious food-borne illness linked to the products.

LANHAM Md. -- Shoppers Food & Pharmacy's 2005 Charity Golf Classic, the company's annual fundraising event, which was held last week, has raised more than $300,000 for five area nonprofits, the retailer said Friday.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Building on the success of last year's inaugural Fair Trade Month program launch, TransFair USA, the independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products, Saturday launched Fair Trade Month 2005.

Imported specialty foods will become less and less 'special' in a multicultural market -- but they'd better be the real thing.