Salem-area grocery chain Roth’s Fresh Markets came within hours of a strike by meat and deli department workers. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 reached tentative agreement with Roth’s Sept. 10 on a new three-year union contract, just ahead of a strike that was to start Sept. 11. If members vote to ratify it in the coming weeks as expected, it will largely match terms agreed to by Fred Meyer. Roth’s is one of five grocery banners owned by Save Mart Companies, which also owns Chuck’s Fresh Markets in Vancouver, Washington, and the Save Mart, Lucky, and Food Maxx chains in California and Nevada. Save Mart in turn is owned by The Jim Pattison Group, a conglomerate led by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison that owns grocery chains in Western Canada.