When shoppers see new Heart Check marks on potatoes next year, the industry hopes the U.S. Department of Agriculture will notice them too and add white potatoes to the federally supported Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children.

Starting in February, white potatoes will join a list of foods that have been certified to meet the American Heart Association's nutrition criteria as being low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

"Authenticity" has long been a watchword of the California Avocado Commission and never more than with the inception of the California avocado grower marketing campaign.

This season, California avocado growers have elevated their level of involvement in the consumer campaign by making personal appearances at retailer events and by interacting with consumers as well as with the media to create personalized marketing experiences.

The South African summer citrus season is progressing according to plan with 30,583 tons of clementines, Navel oranges and grapefruit shipped as of the second week of September.

"We have been delighted with the demand for our citrus this season," Gerrit van der Merwe, chairman of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, said in a Sept. 7 press release.

SUN VALLEY, ID - A year ago at the 81st annual Idaho Grower Shipper Association meeting, the industry strategized in the face of moving a record crop. As part of that effort, the Idaho Potato Commission ramped up its promotional programs on the retail, foodservice and international fronts with a number of consumer and trade initiatives.

This year, the industry is looking at a much shorter crop. However, the commission will continue with an all-out promotional assault to help move the state's famous spuds and maintain the "Idaho" brand recognition.

Christopher Ranch has added three new packs of peeled specialty onions to its product mix, according to a Sept. 2 press release issued by the Gilroy, CA- based company.

The products are Pearl onions, Cipolline onions and shallots, and Christopher Ranch LLC is offering the value-added pre-peeled products in ready-to-use six-ounce retail consumer bags.

"With the success of its peeled garlic in eco-friendly bags, Christopher Ranch knew the timing was right to expand its consumer line of products in the new packaging," the release stated.

NAPLES, FL - How bad was this Florida tomato season? Bad enough that Reggie Brown, manager of the Florida Tomato Committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, began his annual state-of-the- industry address at the Florida Tomato Conference, held Sept. 7-12 at the Naples Ritz-Carlton, here, by leading attendees in a chant of "It's over."

"What do you say after a year like last year?" Mr. Brown asked the estimated 300 tomato industry members at the opening of the Sept. 8 session.

"It's over," the attendees mumbled back.