Urschel Laboratories Inc. promoted RICK URSCHEL from vice president of operations to president and chief executive officer of the company, effective Sept. 13.

“As I pass the leadership of the company on to Rick, I am fully confident in his abilities as the new president and CEO of Urschel Laboratories,” said Bob Urschel, president and CEO of the company for the past 30 years, who will remain actively involved with the company as chairman of the board.

Nash Produce in Nashville, NC, is quickly becoming a familiar name throughout the produce industry. Already well-known in sweet potato circles, the Nash approach to marketing and brand-building has kept company members traveling, spreading the word about its 7,500-acres of NC sweet potato production.

“Exports are huge in the potato industry,” said Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, in a presentation made to the membership of the Idaho Grower Shipper Association in Sun Valley, ID, Aug. 29. “Total U.S. fresh potato exports are now 900 million pounds, and growing at a rate of 17 percent, and we have been part of that.”

WASHINGTON — A top FDA official assured the produce industry Thursday that the agency will take a look at changing how it deploys resources at the border after Produce Marketing Association's Jim Gorny raised the question of whether there would be less testing and sampling at border crossings once the Food Safety Modernization Act rules go into effect.

The 2012-13 marketing year saw major gains for promotions of Idaho potatoes in the foodservice sector, according to Don Odiorne, Idaho Potato Commission vice president of foodservice.

The actual number of promotions written was about the same as for the prior year, he said, but the level of participation was unprecedented. “We had participation from a lot more units than we ever had before. We put an offer out there, and they are taking advantage of it.” As a result, “We had tremendous success.”

Winners of the National Mango Board's third Mango Mania Display Contest for small retailers with up to 50 stores have been announced and will be awarded for their creativity in building the best, most beautiful mango displays in this year's competition.

The display contest resulted in a 273 percent mango volume increase amongst participating stores compared to the same time last year.

Now in its third year, this annual contest is designed to engage and reward smaller retailers by encouraging them to build big, beautiful mango displays.