Vons to Resume Newspaper Ads for Table Grapes

Vons Cos., backing away from a pact it reached last month with the United Farm Workers, said late Tuesday that it is resuming newspaper advertisements for its California table grapes.

The supermarket chain had continued selling grapes but stopped advertising and promoting them in its stores in exchange for the UFW’s promise to end its 10-month boycott and picketing campaign against the company. The UFW alleged that pesticides used in growing the grapes were poisoning farm workers, at times fatally, along with causing birth defects among some of their children.

But Vons’ deal with the UFW unraveled when California’s grape growers, represented by the California Table Grape Commission, threatened to sue the supermarket company.

In response, Vons is seeking a settlement with the commission “and advertising grapes will be a part of it,” company spokeswoman Mary McAboy.

She said ads would begin today in some newspapers.

McAboy said Vons had not discussed its decision with the UFW. Arcadia-based Vons, the biggest supermarket chain in Southern California, operates stores under the names Vons, Pavilions and Tianguis.

Told of Vons’ plans by a Times reporter, UFW Vice President Arturo Rodriguez said: “We’re shocked to even hear of such a rumor. We thought (Vons Chairman) Roger Stangeland was a man of his word.”

Rodriguez said UFW officials would decide how to respond after talking to Vons executives.