SUN VALLEY, ID — The Idaho potato industry enjoyed success in 2012-13 and finished on strong markets in spite of a large crop characterized by a preponderance of large-sized potatoes.

SUN VALLEY, ID — The 85th annual Idaho Grower Shipper Association convention, held here Aug. 28-30, brought together members of the Idaho potato industry and offered numerous educational and networking opportunities. Among the networking highlights of the annual convention is the Union Pacific cocktail party, held Aug. 29, where industry members had a chance to reconnect in a relaxed setting amid the picturesque grounds of the Sun Valley Inn.

Shipments to the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market and the surrounding Bronx, NY, area account for about 25 percent of the transportation business that LD Logistics arranges, which is where the firm is located.

The National Mango Board hosted its second free Mango Temperature Management & Ripening Webinar Aug. 22 for retailers and importers. It focused on providing attendees with information on how to best handle mangos and the importance of proper temperature management to enhance consumers’ mango-eating experience.

The “Harvest Hobgoblin” retail promotion from J.P. Dulcich & Sons/Sunlight International Sales Inc. in Delano, CA, first introduced in 2010, is now entering its third season. “It is a monster promotion,” said Nick Dulcich, a partner in J.P. Dulcich & Sons and president of Sunlight. “It has grown. It is growing. And we are hoping that the success continues on that.”

Frieda’s Specialty Produce is prepared to help retailers scare up specialty sales with a wide produce selection and merchandising tips for creating a Halloween destination display for the third year in a row. The company will also support produce sales with an October “Spooky Foods” social media campaign to drive shoppers into stores.