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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.