From coast to coast, Idaho potato fans showed their love for the spud in the Idaho Potato Commission's iTuber Take II Video Contest. Entrants submitted spud-inspired shorts including animated educational videos, horror flicks and documentaries, all vying for a chance to win the $3,000 grand prize. Scott Winn from Rexburg, ID, took top honors winning the $3,000 grand prize. The two runners up, who won $1,000 each, were John Lars Lindstrom from Glendora, CA, and Lantz Barbour from Silver Spring, MD. Michael Cochran from Wilder, ID, won first prize in the Idaho high school video contest. "It's so

There are no tomatoes in Valerie Grenier's home garden. That is not because the 29-year-old does not like them; quite the contrary, she has an unlimited supply of them at her disposal at her job. Ms. Grenier is the sales and marketing director at Les Serres du St.-Laurent, recognized throughout Quebec by its "Savoura" label and renowned for its premium greenhouse-grown tomatoes. She was promoted in May to her current position at Savoura after spending seven years as its principal accounts manager, a position she took after finishing her degree in food sciences at Laval University in January

Bruce Grim, a longtime grower, tree fruit industry leader and lawyer, has been named executive director of the Wenatchee-based Washington State Horticulture Association. According to WSHA President Mark Holtzinger, Mr. Grim's ability to deliver value in all his previous service to the industry qualifies him well to lead the association, which has represented the tree fruit industry for 104 years. The association serves to advance the industry through both education and legislative-regulatory representation in Olympia, WA. In addition to his new role, Mr. Grim will continue to serve as manager

LINDSAY, CA -- Cal Citrus Packing Co. Inc, a well-known grower-shipper in the California citrus industry, is the newest member of Sunkist Growers, the grower-owned citrus marketing cooperative headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA. "We're looking forward to our affiliation with Sunkist," Cal Citrus President Jerry Luallen said in an Aug. 5 press release. "We have an excellent product, and Sunkist has an excellent marketing network and a brand name that is known around the world. Sunkist has been streamlining operations, reducing costs and greatly expanding the opportunities it offers to growers

The Texas Produce Association has confirmed its plans to shift its convention from South Padre Island, TX, to McAllen, TX, and that it will take place Sept. 18-20, as reported previously by The Produce News and theproducenews.com. TPA President John McClung said that Hurricane Dolly, which flooded parts of South Padres Island in late July, caused the rescheduling of the convention from its August date on that island to the September date in the Rio Grande Valley. "The program will remain largely unchanged, though we may have to swap out a speaker or two," he told The Produce News Aug. 7. "All

The California Tree Fruit Agreement, the marketing orders that represent California's more than 1,100 fresh peach, plum and nectarine growers, has hired Jeff Smutny as its new vice president of marketing. Mr. Smutny will join the CTFA team Aug. 19. In his new position, he will lead the marketing team in the strategic development and execution of marketing programs designed to expand the opportunities for the grower-members' success. "Jeff's wealth of knowledge in marketing and advertising in diverse industries will be an asset to our programs and long-term strategic direction," Sheri Mierau