Mount Vernon, IL-based Frey Farms Produce, one of the larger U.S. grower- packer-shippers of pumpkins, announced Oct. 18 that it has renewed its partnership with CHEP, a leading pallet and container pooling company.

Frey Farms Produce is now transporting its branded pumpkins, watermelons and cantaloupes from its facilities in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Colorado and Michigan to supermarkets, wholesalers, clubstores, fresh processors and foodservice operators in the United States and Canada on CHEP pallets.

The Eagle, ID-based Idaho Potato Commission has become an official sponsor of the Boise State University and the University of Idaho football teams.

Beginning this season and for the next five seasons, Idaho's famous potatoes will be the "official team tater" and have a significant presence in both Bronco Stadium and Kibbie Dome, according to a press release from the commission, which will also be the major sponsor of the much-anticipated BSU-UI football game that is being played Nov. 12 this year at the Kibbie Dome.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service administrator, Ed Knipling, and other agency experts met in late October with concerned representatives from the apple and other agricultural industries to address the impact of a rapidly emerging orchard pest: the Brown Marmorated stinkbug.

The discussion was organized by the U.S. Apple Association and hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

(Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, sent the following remarks to association members following the mid-term elections Tuesday, Nov. 2.)

On Tuesday, Americans exercised one of our most cherished rights by participating in free, fair and open elections of our nation's congressional and state leaders. And what an election it was. With a net change of 60 more Republicans in the House of Representatives, and at least six in the Senate, we're going to see a very different Congress-- and relationship with the president -- for the next two years.

One lucky person in South Carolina — Ricky McCloud — is tooling around on a Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883C motorcycle that is bedecked with a Wisconsin staple: potatoes.

Jeff Stachelek joined Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Nov. 1 to fill the firm's newly created director of trade marketing position.

In the new role, Mr. Stachelek will manage customer-specific consumer marketing activities, customized in-store marketing, specific go-to-market strategies and oversee new item rollouts.