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. "NAM celebrated the start of its second century of promotion and continues to deliver a promotional marketing event that kick-starts the domestic apple industry's marketing season," NAM Director Kay Swartz Rentzel said in a statement. "T. Marzetti's products and the National Peanut Board returned as promotion partners, and the use of their products

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. The Super Bowl, which is important even to non-football fans, is typically celebrated with copious amounts of food, and the produce industry enjoys spikes in its sales leading up to game day. Avocados move quickly for guacamole and vegetables for dipping trays are in high demand. But for the host city, the event builds up for much longer as the city floods with both fans and sports

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. Speaking of the advances in radio frequency identification, Bruce Peterson of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Bentonville, AR, recently told The Produce News that this supply-management tool appears to be progressing on schedule. He agreed that there are on-the-ground issues that are causing some suppliers to move faster than others, but he said that the bird's eye view is that the technology is moving ahead and it is

WATSONVILLE, CA -- Whether competing in a race or exercising alone on a lonesome back road, cyclists wearing the uniform of Watsonville, CA-based California Giant are expected to carry themselves in a manner befitting the company they represent. Riders from the elite team and local riders from the masters team came out to the Watsonville area Jan. 20-22 for training - both for racing and representing. As a sponsor to the riders, Cal Giant gives them some guidance on how to behave and best represent the company "when wearing our colors," said Anthony Gallino, vice president of sales for Cal

MONTE VISTA, CO -- As the interview process continues for a new executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Assistant Executive Director Linda Weyers and Marketing Committee Chairman David Tonso said in late January that they were both confident the right person will come to the job. "We have interviewed several great applicants," Mr. Tonso said. "But we just haven't found that right person. We're not looking for a super hero, but we do have specific needs." The post was held for three years by Chris Voigt, who left Colorado in August for a similar position with the

During the past holiday season, I visited the produce trenches to observe product, quality and merchandising displays of supermarket chains. This is a normal routine, since I enjoy being with the people on the front lines where all the action takes place. In one supermarket, I stood at the entrance and observed an area which included the deli, in-store bakery, floral and produce departments. While observing, I noticed a customer at the deli counter making a request. The deli clerk shook her head, pointed to the bakery department and said, "Ask the person over there. She'll be able to help you