A group of more than 30 leading growers, suppliers, buyers, technical experts, environmental organizations and public interest organizations announced Dec. 18 the formation of the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops.

Through an inclusive effort, the multi-stakeholder initiative will develop and share a comprehensive system for measuring sustainable performance across the supply chain -- at farms, processors, distributors, food-service providers and retailers.

The Center for Produce Safety and the California Leafy Greens Research Board announced Nov. 20 a joint call for food-safety research proposals.

The research areas are directed to answer critical research questions that fill the gaps in the basic understanding in specific areas of food-safety practices for leafy greens production. The objective is to provide the leafy greens produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used at all levels throughout the supply chain.

The Idaho Potato Retail Display Contest, one of the industry's more anticipated retail promotions of the year, is back. With more than $150,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs and a free DVD/MP3 player to all qualified entrants, everyone's a winner guaranteed.

Now in its 18th year, this contest continues to attract huge support from retailers from across the country. Last year, close to 1,900 entries were received.

Montreal-based Metro Inc., one of the larger retailers in Canada, has named Daniel Archambault its new director of produce procurement, sales and quality control for Quebec.

Mr. Archambault, Metro's former produce sales manager and a 27-year veteran at the firm, replaces Ghislain Perron, a 29-year Metro employee and a 40-year veteran of the produce industry, who was named director of special projects for produce in July.

MONTEREY, CA -- Salyer American Fresh Foods announced Dec. 8 that its new website is now on-line at www.salyeramerican.com.

Among its many useful features is a unique, easy-to-use link to crop updates by commodity. Produce buyers can click the crop update button at the top of the page to learn the latest information on crop appearance, quality and availability.

Featured commodities include broccoli, cauliflower, celery, green onions, Iceberg lettuce, leaf lettuce and Romaine. Crop updates are done weekly and posted at 10 a.m. PST each Saturday.

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama has named former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his choice to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mr. Vilsack, who served two terms as Iowa's Democratic governor and who represented a state known for growing corn and soybeans, has been tabbed to run a department facing critical energy, agriculture and nutrition issues.

At a Dec. 17 press conference in Chicago, President-elect Obama said that his nominee for secretary of agriculture was a leader in clean energy and an advocate for policies that protect family farms.