Perhaps for the first time ever, the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, based in E. Grand Forks, MN, will be exhibiting at the huge National Restaurant Association convention in Chicago.

At the Dec. 6 annual meeting of United Potato Growers of America, Allen Floyd of Othello, WA, was elected chairman of the grower co-op for the coming year.

The potato grower and partner of Harvest Fresh and HF Farms has served on the United board of directors as chairman of United Potato Growers of Washington & Northeast Oregon for the last three years, and as vice chairman of United of America for the last year.

The National Weather Service issued a freeze watch Jan. 1 for all of southern Florida that was expected to last from 48 to 72 hours. The posting warned that "a significant and damaging freeze is likely" in most areas.

Low temperatures were forecast for the morning of Jan. 3 and were expected to dip into the lower 20s in the northern interior part of the state and into the mid-30s along the southeast coastline. One meteorologist in southeast Florida predicted snow flurries near the coastline early Thursday morning.

Hubert H. Nall Jr., owner and president of Hubert H. Nall Co., located at the Atlanta State Farmer's Market, died Dec. 27 from complications following an automobile accident that occurred Dec. 24. He was 80.

Derrelle Pridgen Jr., spokesperson for the firm, said that Mr. Nall oversaw the company's operations until the day of his accident.

"He knew every single detail of the business, and was here and active every day," said Mr. Pridgen. "His death is a great sorrow and loss to his family and to all who knew him for his highly professional, yet extremely kind manner."

The change of seasons brings predictable new challenges and opportunities to consider, and the same can be said of the annual cycle of the floral business.


As the industry gears up for its annual push toward Valentine's Day, weather in the production areas will be watched carefully. Retailers in the Northeast will pray for much better weather than last year. The supply chain will struggle with extraordinarily high volumes. And, unfortunately, consumers may be bombarded with negative messages, usually misleading, about how flowers are grown and cared for.

HARTFORD, CT -- Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has announced $823,636 in grant funds to help expand and advance the state's agricultural economy. The grants are administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

The funds will go to 14 agricultural producers, two non-profit agricultural organizations and 16 municipalities throughout the state as part of the Connecticut Agriculture Viability Grant program.