Clifford J. Moquist, a well-known name in the Red River Valley potato industry, died Dec. 19 at age 90 in Melbourne, FL. Mr. Moquist, of Crystal, ND, was a founding partner of O.C. Shulz & Sons Inc., a farming and potato wash plant operation in Crystal.

He was born in Minneapolis to Swedish immigrant parents, and grew up in Minnesota, New York City, East Meredith, NY, and Farmingdale, NY.

Dennis Donohue, president of Salinas-based European Vegetable Specialties Farms Inc., has announced his candidacy for mayor of Salinas.

Mr. Donohue is a member of the board of directors of the Salinas-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California. He also is the newly installed chairman of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Produce Marketing Association's foodservice board.

The Produce Marketing Association's Retail Produce Solutions Conference will be held March 9-11 in Houston. The three-day conference is designed to give executives representing every segment of the supply chain the opportunity to focus on the unique challenges and solutions of the fresh produce industry. A particular focus will be marketing to the "new consumer" segments, namely Hispanics, Asians, GenXers and children.

In a move that solidifies Los Angeles-based Herb Thyme Farms Inc.'s position as a leading U.S. grower, shipper and marketer of fresh culinary herbs and edible flowers, the company has acquired the business operations of McCormick Fresh Herbs LLC.

New York Gov. George E. Pataki has nominated Patrick Brennan to serve as commissioner of agriculture and markets. He succeeds Nathan Rudgers, who stepped down from the post late last year.

As the state's agriculture commissioner, Mr. Brennan will oversee the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture & Markets, an agency that has both regulatory and promotional oversight of the food and agricultural industry.

Accent lighting is becoming increasingly popular in the supermarket. Carefully aimed bulbs can enhance the green waxy shine on avocados, boost sunny colors on bananas, and make radishes, grapes and blueberries look positively mouth watering.

According to new research conducted by scientists at the University of Idaho extension, however, some lights work better on potatoes than others. The study showed that certain bright overhead lights speed the rate at which potatoes turn green, and that's a consumer turnoff.