FRESNO, CA " Alex Ott, director of government relations for the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, has been named to head the California Apple Commission, here.

His selection was approved by the commission?s board of directors at a March 7 meeting, according to Kenton Kidd, who will be retiring as president of the commission on April 1. Mr. Ott?s title will be executive director.

Eric Kimes spent his formative years in Guatemala from age seven to 17 learning about melons from his father. It was an education that comes in handy today.

Eric?s father, Michael Kimes, "has been a grower of melons for 20 years in Latin America," with much experience selling fruit into the export market, Mr. Kimes said.

Together, father and son launched Continental Produce in February 2004, with a lone office in Carmel, CA. Mr. Kimes? sister, Michele, also works for the company as sales coordinator.

After reviewing results of the U.S. Potato Board?s domestic and international marketing programs and discussing the future of those programs on budgets that have been static for more than 20 years, board members voted during the board?s annual meeting March 19 to increase the assessment.

Eighty-eight percent supported the funding increase from 2 cents per cwt. to 2.5 cents per cwt., with a delayed start date of March 1, 2006.

An apple a day can help keep breast cancer away, according to a study published recently by food scientists at Cornell University.

It's the latest in a series of new university research from around the world supporting the dramatic health benefits of eating apples.

?We found that tumor incidence was reduced by 17, 39 and 44 percent in rats fed the human equivalent of one, three or six apples a day, respectively, over 24 weeks," said Rui Hai Liu, Cornell associate professor of food science at the university?s agricultural experiment station in Geneva, NY.

MINNEAPOLIS " In response to the unprecedented natural disaster in Southeast Asia, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. and its employees have donated $90,000 to tsunami relief efforts. C.H. Robinson matched 100 percent of its employees? contributions, which totaled $45,000.

Syngenta Seeds Inc./?Rogers? brand vegetables has announced that Norma Standerford has taken on a newly created role as strategic account manager, responsible for focusing breeders on traits beyond the grower and developing products designed specifically for markets by understanding the requirements of downstream customers.

Ms. Standerford will initially be addressing needs in the fresh-cut processor segment.