Ainsley Harriott launched the Royal Mail's new fruit and vegetable stamps at New Covent Garden

Pink Lady campaigners reported a good response to another high-profile consumer promotion

Tesco overhauled its organic  packaging design

Tesco overhauled its organic packaging design

January

The first month of 2003 carried on where the final quarter of 2002 had left off. The merger and acquisition trail was hot news, as four of the five top stories from January illustrate. The fifth most visited story was ñ surprisingly maybe ñ an article detailing the preferences of carrot consumers.

New Berry Alliance

Redbridge AFI / Worldwide Fruit seal marketing jv

Mack completes purchase of DGM Food Group

Redbridge and Chingford link up

Carrot-eaters want choices

February

The Spanish caught a chill in February, threatening the continuity of supplies to northern Europe. Asda reiterated its support for its UK fresh produce suppliers, while Greenery Superior invested in new ripening facilities. Capespan unveiled a new image for its peak season in the UK and a new Panamanian project raised the bar in the melon job.

Cold sweeps southern Spain

Asda stays loyal to UK growers

New look for new season

Greenery invests in Nectar

Panama raises melon stakes

March

The EurepGAP debate intensified, as the industry was told that it should view the minimum standards as a non-competitive issue. The ambitiously named Produce World Ltd created a new £90 million name on the UK vegetable landscape. Del Monte announced the launch of its golden pineapples into the prepared market, while the Safeway saga began to take hold. Is frozen veg healthier? the debate raged and got you clicking.

Eurep Gap is non-competitive

Another new name in produce

Del Monte gets prepared

Safeway - takeover tangle

Is frozen veg healthier?