EAGLE, ID -- It's no secret that creative displays in the retail environment move product. Need proof? For the 15th year in a row, the number of entrants in the Potato Lover's Month Retail Display Contest significantly increased. In 2006, almost 1,000 more retailers than last year entered the contest, bringing the total number of entries to a staggering 2,680. The Idaho Potato Commission and its partners "Kraft Cheese Whiz" and "Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits" attribute the high interest to the fact that the displays are driving business during a traditionally slow time of year. Another key

BALTIMORE -- Novazone Inc., a provider of innovative ozone- based solutions to improve the freshness and safety of food and water, is looking to make its mark in produce as part of its plan to become strategically focused on the food industry. The company was on hand promoting its services at the International Fresh-cut Produce Association's Fresh Cut Expo 2006, here, April 26-29. Paul White, chief executive officer of the Livermore, CA-based company, said that he has noted more demand from the food industry as environmental legislation has ramped up regarding the use of chemicals

An April 24-25 seminar on merchandising and handling organic produce "was everything we hoped it would be," said Mike Mascari, owner and president of Indianapolis Fruit Co. in Indianapolis. The seminar attracted 240 people, many from a large section of the middle of the United States, and was deemed "a large success" by Mr. Mascari. He noted that "not listed in any particular order of importance, we had produce directors and produce managers and a few store directors and a few owners and people from the shipping community, a governmental agency and the produce press." The produce distributor

BALTIMORE -- A record crowd attended the International Fresh-cut Produce Association's conference here April 26-29 to hear speakers discuss food safety, packaging innovations and other trends facing the fresh-cut industry. Some 108 of the industry's top suppliers and nearly 1,500 attendees registered for the meeting, which was called the biggest audience ever for the Fresh Cut Expo. "We were thrilled to see so many industry members come out to support this year's show," said IFPA President Jerry Welcome. "I think our big turnout this year just reaffirms the strong need for a show dedicated to

Sun Pacific, the Los Angeles-based grower-shipper known for its recent success in launching the national Cutie clementine program, announced the hiring of Tristan Kieva as its new vice president of marketing. Ms. Kieva has been in the produce industry for 16 years, the last seven of which were spent at Frieda's Inc. in Los Alamitos, CA, where she rose to the position of vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to Frieda's, she worked as marketing director for Paramount Farms in Los Angeles, and as the corporate marketing manager for Smart & Final in Vernon, CA. Barney Evans, general

Summeripe Worldwide Inc. in Dinuba, CA, announced the addition of Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, to the Summeripe Alliance of quality tree fruit shippers. Sun World joins an existing group of shippers of preconditioned peaches, plums and nectarines that includes Crown Jewels Marketing, Family Tree Farms Inc., Giannini Packing Co., Mountain View Fruit Sales Inc., Pandol Bros. Inc., Simonian Fruit Co., Visalia Produce and Wespak Sales Co. Sun World was established in 1976 as a packer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables. Throughout its initial decade, the company was a