Target Corp. announced the promotion of Janna Potts to executive vice president, chief stores officer. Potts will be responsible for the leadership of Target’s 1,805 stores across the United States. She replaces Tina Tyler and will assume the position effective immediately.

Produce Alliance, a produce management, consulting and procurement company based in Chicago, launched the #PAPuckerface challenge with Limoneira to raise awareness of the 16.2 million children in the United States who struggle with hunger. Due to the success of the campaign, Produce Alliance was able to donate $10,000 to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of 200 food banks across the country.

The Christie Administration has received a $707,000 Specialty Crop Block Grant to fund 11 initiatives to benefit Garden State crops such as fruits and vegetables, as well as horticulture and nursery.

The grants are part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s efforts to promote specialty crops in the nation and stimulate food and agriculturally based community economic and development. Specialty crops account for $907 million in sales annually in the Garden State.

The transitions from fall to winter mean retailers should rethink their category plans for marketing apples. Steve Lutz, vice president/marketing for Columbia Marketing International, provided The Produce News with his insights about the impact such repositioning can have as supply conditions change.

It’s too late for a sparkling bite of “SweeTango” apples — at least for this season.

Theron Kibbe, executive director of Next Big Thing, the growers’ cooperative that own the club variety, explained that it was sold out in the United States and in Canada for the current season.

“This seasonal apple variety is available each fall,” he said. “It is typically in Washington state stores from mid-August to early September. In the Midwest, East and Nova Scotia, it is available into December.”

While people may have enjoyed the warm December weather in upstate New York, it wasn’t good news for apples.

In mid-December, Peter Forrence, president of Forrence Orchards Inc., in Peru, NY, explained why to The Produce News.