NEWS ROUNDUP 1995-04-24 (1)

Chiquita Tests New Drink, Carton

s here has introduced a low calorie refrigerated juice beverage called Chiquita Light, which is being tested in a new 48-ounce size carton in select markets.

The new juice is also being offered in other markets in the traditional 64-ounce carton.

The 48-ounce carton, manufactured by Tetra-Pak, Columbus, Ohio, has the front panel of a half-gallon and a side panel of a quart of milk.

Larry Conway, chief operating officer, Chiquita Consumer Package Foods Division, said the 48 ounce carton "represents a real packaging breakthrough.

"For retailers, the smaller carton footprint means more on-shelf product, while its new Tetra-Pak technology and our new packing process mean an extended shelf life -- 90 days."

It was designed to be easier to hold and to pour from, said Michael Berg, general manager for the mideast region for Tetra-Pak. The new carton also uses a newly developed barrier material called Siox. Berg described it as a glass type coating, which helps lock in flavor.

The juice drink is available in 48-ounce cartons in the Cincinnati and St. Louis markets and in 64-ounce cartons in the Milwaukee and Chicago markets. It comes in tropical orange and strawberry guava flavors.

An 8-ounce serving of Chiquita Light has 30 calories.

AMI Government Conference Set

WASHINGTON -- The American Meat Institute, Arlington, Va., will hold its Government Affairs Conference May 15-17 at the ANA Hotel here.

General Brent Scowcroft, president of the Forum for International Policy, will be the featured speaker during the opening session Monday.

Roundtable discussions are slated for Tuesday morning, to allow conference attendees to meet with members of Congress and administration officials. Confirmed participants include Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Michael Taylor and Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator August Schumacher.

Other scheduled conference speakers include: Mary Matalin, a senior Bush campaign adviser, and her husband, James Carville, a consultant to President Clinton.

An evening reception honoring new Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman is planned for Tuesday. The three-day event will close Wednesday, May 17, with the annual Deli Day Lunch at the Rayburn House office building courtyard.

For more information, contact AMI at (703) 841-2400.

May Livestock Conference Slated

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Sparks Cos., an agricultural consulting firm, will be holding its annual Livestock, Meat, Poultry & Dairy Spring Conference and Industry Overview here May 11 and 12.

The event, targeted to meat, poultry and livestock executives, will focus on meat pricing, supply and demand, and changing economics that affect the industry.

Seiji Mori, chairman of the Tokyo Grain Exchange, will conduct a special session on the proposed "Australian Full Set Beef Futures Contract."

For more information on the conference, contact Sparks Cos. at (800) 238-6083 or (901) 766-4600.

Onion, Wine Tie-In Launched

MCALLEN, Texas -- Griffin & Brand here, a grower and shipper of Texas Trophy 1015 onions, has launched a spring cross-merchandising promotion with wine, eggs and the giant onions.

The nationwide promotion, in conjunction with RACKE USA, a wine marketing group based in Sonoma, Calif., features leaflets attached to bottles of Buena Vista Carneros and Haywood wines. The leaflets include information about the brand name onion, including a consumer write-in offer, a recipe and either a manufacturer's coupon or mail-in rebate.

The wine bottles can be marketed in the dairy case or produce department. The promotion will run through May.