Fitness guru Denise Austin to star in new commercial for Idaho potatoes
The 2008-09 Idaho potato marketing season will be the fifth in which fitness guru Denise Austin will serve as spokesperson for Idaho potatoes. Her activities on behalf of Idaho potatoes for the coming year will include a new television commercial and a satellite media tour, according to Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission in Eagle, ID.
For the new commercial, the commission brought Ms. Austin to Idaho and filmed her "interacting with our water, soil and climate," Mr. Muir said. That is what makes Idaho potatoes the world famous potatoes that they are.
Apple market strong with no letup in sight
Fall has begun, and with it the harvesting of apples coast to coast, which should typically mean good supplies and good pricing. But the apple market, which has been fairly hot all year, has remained strong through the transition from last year's crop to the new crop and there is no letup in sight.
"Demand is very good," said Nancy Foster, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Apple Association in Vienna, VA. The prices are good, and we are happy about that. It looks like it is going to be a good year.
W. Newell expo brings together customers and suppliers
W. Newell & Co., based in Champaign, IL, brought together many of its vendors and retail customers for an expo Sept. 9-10 that featured education seminars, entertainment, an exhibition and sales opportunities.
National Vice President of Operations John Aune said that the day-and-a- half, produce-only event featured 92 vendors and close to 200 customers. "We have a two-fold purpose," he said. "It is a sales opportunity, but it is also an opportunity to educate our customers on produce industry and consumer trends."
Fresh Express conference pushes food-safety goals forward
MONTEREY, CA -- As Jim Lugg, Fresh Express' executive vice president for science and quality, said, "Whenever you do research, it leads to more research."
Still, the Fresh Express 2008 Fresh Produce Safety Research Conference, held here Sept. 11 in an open forum at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, likely advanced the industry's efforts toward coming up with solutions to lessen the occurrence of foodborne illness outbreaks.
NAM contest benefits retailers and consumers
With few changes from last year's promotion, the National Apple Month's 2008 fall retail and military display contests will feature T. Marzetti's "Caramel Apple Dip" and Smucker's "Natural Peanut Butter," both national leaders in their category.
Both products provide for excellent tie-in merchandising and are positioned to drive consumer impulse purchases. Both partners have been previous participants in the display contests.
FPFC luncheon marks debut for Safeway executive
PLEASANTON, CA -- Steve Burnham, the new vice president of produce for Safeway Inc., joked that he was happy to leave the meat department where E. coli and Salmonella scares often reared their ugly heads.
Speaking to more than 200 attendees at the Sept. 16 luncheon of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, here, the longtime Safeway executive also quipped that he was glad his days of dealing with country-of-origin labeling in the seafood department were over.
South African summer citrus sets record
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ -- South African citrus export volumes to the United States have exceeded expectations for the season, according to Piet Smit, managing director of the Western Cape Citrus Producers' Forum.
OTA names new executive director
GREENFIELD, MA -- The Organic Trade Association has appointed a new executive director: Christine Bushway, who became the third executive director in the association's 23-year history.
Congressional panel grills FDA on Salmonella outbreak response
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) criticized the Food & Drug Administration's response to this summer's Salmonella outbreak at a Sept. 17 hearing, here, and announced plans to introduce a bill to split up FDA's food and drug programs to elevate food safety in the government agency.
Rep. DeLauro plans to introduce a bill later this month that would consolidate food regulation within the Department of Health & Human Services as well as require new mandates for traceability, inspections and imported foods.
Produce veterans returning to radio
SALINAS, CA -- It's been more than three years since the nationally syndicated radio show "The Produce Pair" has been heard on the radio. For San Francisco Bay area listeners, that drought is about to end.
Produce industry veteran Dan (The Produce Man) Avakian and radio partner Mark (Guido the Gardener) Ferro are teaming up again to return to the airwaves in late October or early November. This time the duo will air on KTRB (860 AM), a 50,000-watt station based in San Francisco.