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.

VIENNA, VA -- The U.S. Apple Association's National Apple Month program announced Jan. 24 the winners of the fall 2005 National Apple Month retail and military display contests, bringing the apple industry's fall generic apple promotion to a close.

DETROIT -- When the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks meet here Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. EST to battle for a Super Bowl victory, the Detroit produce industry will have already been cheering for several days.

Despite continued news reports that RFID technology is costly and its benefits are concentrated at retail, there appears to be growing recognition that adoption is inevitable.