After nearly four years as public relations manager for the Pear Bureau Northwest, Laura Wieking announced in mid-May that she is leaving the position, effective June 2.

Ms. Wieking joined the bureau as its PR manager in September 2002, and she said that the decision to depart the organization was a difficult one.

Her new job, which will be part time, is communications manager with the Credit Union Association of Oregon. She said that logistics factored into the move, and the CUAO offices are a shorter commute from her home and her family.

The Idaho Potato Commission's recent advertising campaign in the consumer, retail and foodservice arenas in both print and television mediums has been awarded four prestigious "Best of NAMA" awards (one national, three regional). The Santa Barbara, CA-based National Agri-Marketing Association's Best of NAMA awards competition recognizes excellence in creative agri-marketing communications and is a hallmark of distinction in the agricultural advertising industry.

A quarantine on shipping Florida-grown citrus to other citrus-producing states is the last thing the already-distressed industry needs -- but that is exactly what it is potentially facing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is contemplating placing the state under a canker quarantine, thereby preventing shipments to other citrus-producing states in the coming season.

The consumer press has labeled it a "food fight," but produce industry representatives say there is no fundamental disagreement about regulations concerning the allocation of federally funded specialty crop block grants.

CHICAGO -- The Food Marketing Institute is considering a number of changes to its annual supermarket show, which is currently held every year in early May here at McCormick Place -- and which for the last three years has included the annual convention of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association.

FMI announced in a May 6 statement "consideration of the board's Long Range Planning Committee recommendation that the FMI show shift to an alternating format and rotating venues beginning in 2008."

With people getting ready to fire up their grills during the summer barbecue season, mushroom producers are preparing for the spike in popularity of their already-popular products that comes during this time of year. In preparation, some of the top marketers are launching new varieties and products that they hope will help increase their own sales as well as lift the category as a whole. What is good for one competitor is good for the whole mushroom category, according to Joe Caldwell, vice president of Watsonville, CA-based Monterey Mushrooms.