The New York Apple Association in Fishers, NY, announced the launch of its annual contest for defense commissaries, which encourages creating big displays of New York-grown apples.

"Over the years, we've worked closely with the Defense Commissary Agency to encourage [it] to promote New York apples in the commissaries," said David McClurg, vice president of marketing for the association.

Pro*Act in Monterey, CA, has appointed Kirk Massey to its director of client services post.

Mr. Massey brings over 20 years of foodservice produce management experience and produce knowledge to the position at Pro*Act. Since 1997, he has been the produce business manager at Shamrock Foods in Denver. His responsibilities included managing procurement, marketing, sales and operations for produce at the broadline distributor.

EurepGAP has announced its new board of directors. The board has four retailer and four supplier seats.

From the retail and foodservice side of the industry are board members Alfons Schmid, vice president of food safety and consumer affairs of Holland-based Ahold, Horst Lang of Globus SB Warenhaus in Germany, Johann Zueblin of Migros, and Stephen Ridge, technical solutions director of U.K. retailer Somerfield.

The board of directors of the Organic Trade Association in Greenfield, MA, announced Feb. 1 that it has selected Caren Wilcox as its new executive director.

Ms. Wilcox, who will begin work at the association in March, will succeed Katherine DiMatteo, the association's original executive director, who served in that role since 1990.

Lowell Catlett, agricultural authority and professor from New Mexico State University, will give the keynote address at the annual meeting of the Washington Growers Clearing House Feb. 7 in Wenatchee, WA.

Dr. Catlett's address is titled, "Tomorrows Agriculture: Six Trends You Cant Afford to Miss."

On Jan. 26, the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, GA, announced its 2006 committee members and officers. At the committee's monthly meeting held on Jan. 19, a representative of the USDA seated the members who were chosen during elections held in September 2005. The slate of elected members was approved by the secretary of agriculture.