The word is out. Webster?s Dictionary announced its choice for 2004?s word of the year " "adultescent," a noun describing an adult who is still an adolescent at heart.

Ever heard of it? Me neither, but according to Webster?s editor-in-chief, "adultescent? is just one of many vocabulary clues indicating the trends and preoccupations of our society.

The editor reminds us that American English is a vigorous, evolving language. Compound words are especially popular to describe our likes and dislikes.

The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission kicked off a new program designed to recognize and reward chefs and restaurateurs who are supporting North Carolina sweet potato growers by including them and identifying their origin on menus.

Effective Jan. 1 and running through April 30, the commission will be accepting applications from chefs and restaurateurs in North Carolina and surrounding states who want to be considered for this program.

As packaging is increasingly used in the fresh produce industry, consumers? sense of smell is eliminated as a marketing issue. But ScentSational Technologies, based in the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown, PA, is offering a new packaging technology that can make packaging smell like the product.

Since ScentSational began commercialization in the fourth quarter of 2003, it has been busy working with the world?s leading packaged food and beverage companies to apply its patented CompelAroma " a proprietary technology utilizing encapsulated flavor and aroma " to packaging.

Sunsweet Fresh announced the launch of its ready-to-eat gourmet Anjou pears packed in unique modified-atmosphere packaging.

After rigorous testing, Sunsweet Fresh was able to select what it has found to be the best MAP technology currently available, allowing for the ripening of pears to their peak of flavor.

Edward S. Campion Sr., former chairman of the board of the Salinas, CA-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, died Monday, Jan. 10 in Salinas. He was 89 years old.

Mr. Campion was born in Chicago and lived in Salinas for the past 64 years. He began his career in produce with the A&P Co. before joining the Lewis Tervin Co. in 1946.

After several years, he and six other employees purchased the company and renamed the firm Merit Packing Co. After 40 years in the produce business, he sold the company and retired in 1979.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- Retailers, chefs, foodservice providers and media from across Missouri were awarded AgriMissouri Excellence Awards Dec. 10 at the Missouri Governor-s Conference on Agriculture at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, MO.

These awards recognize individuals and organizations whose promotion of Missouri grown or processed products has been exemplary.