During the past holiday season, I visited the produce trenches to observe product, quality and merchandising displays of supermarket chains.

This is a normal routine, since I enjoy being with the people on the front lines where all the action takes place.

In one supermarket, I stood at the entrance and observed an area which included the deli, in-store bakery, floral and produce departments.

Florida Citrus Mutual's board of directors appointed J.A. (Jay) Clark III as the interim executive vice president and chief executive officer of the state citrus growers association. Mr. Clark will serve in this interim capacity until the position is filled permanently.

"We are excited to have Jay serve the association in this position," Florida Citrus Mutual President Marty McKenna said in a statement. "We have significant confidence in both the staff and Jay to ensure a smooth transition during the next few months."

WASHINGTON -- Soy food advocates are scratching their heads over the latest announcement from the American Heart Association that questioned whether soy-based foods and supplements significantly reduce cholesterol.

An AHA nutrition panel said that it decided to re-evaluate the latest studies on soy protein and cardiovascular disease, in part because the Food & Drug Administration approved labels that said foods containing soy protein were protective against heart disease.

Kroger Co., the nation's largest grocery company, appears to have put its Ralph's Grocery outlets in Northern California on the market.

The Sacramento Bee reported the move Jan. 14, citing unnamed sources. A check of Ralph's stores in Capitola, CA, and Del Rey Oaks, CA, by The Produce News backed up the Bee report.

At the National Potato Council's annual meeting Jan. 3-7 in Las Vegas, Jim Wysocki, potato grower and fresh packer from Bancroft, WI, was elected to lead the council as president in 2006. He is a second-generation council president; his father, Louis, led the council in 1979.

Mr. Wysocki's priorities include leading the council's efforts in the drafting of the 2007 farm bill, assisting in the creation of a grower pesticide-use database and increasing the involvement of women in the industry and in the council.

USA Pears-sponsored athlete and Northwest native Torin Koos has been chosen as a member of the U.S. Olympic Ski Team. In February, Mr. Koos will compete in the Winter Olympic games in Torino, Italy, along with nine other ski team members. This will be his second time as an Olympian, the first being in Salt Lake City in 2002.