W. Newell & Co., based in Champaign, IL, brought together many of its vendors and retail customers for an expo Sept. 9-10 that featured education seminars, entertainment, an exhibition and sales opportunities. National Vice President of Operations John Aune said that the day-and-a- half, produce-only event featured 92 vendors and close to 200 customers. "We have a two-fold purpose," he said. "It is a sales opportunity, but it is also an opportunity to educate our customers on produce industry and consumer trends." Seminar topics included organic produce, floral merchandising and food safety.

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. Salinas, CA-based Fresh Express was the catalyst behind a research initiative launched at the beginning of 2007 into studying E. coli 0157:H7, with a focus on contamination

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. Retailers and military commissaries are encouraged to display and promote apples and apple products along with the partner products, competing for more than 50 cash

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. The humor was not lost on the crowd that knows the food-safety issue is probably the industry's biggest concern today, followed by the

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. As of Sept. 16, South African citrus exports to the United States were up 16 percent from a year ago, setting an all-time volume high for Navel oranges. When the season started in late June, a normal crop and normal marketing volumes were expected this season, Mr. Smit told The Produce News in an interview at the Western Cape's Gloucester City office, which overlooks the Delaware River.

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. "OTA is very fortunate to have Christine Bushway as its new executive director. Her passion for this opportunity, combined with her outstanding leadership skills, association experience and great energy will help the OTA move to the next level," Julia Sabin, president of the association's board of directors, said in a Sept. 22 statement. "With recent strengthening of OTA's organizational infrastructure and