NEW YORK -- As the fall potato harvest gets ready to kick off, the Idaho Potato Commission returned to the media capital of the world Sept. 20 to celebrate and explain its significance, as well as to unveil two new commercials that star fitness icon Denise Austin, its spokesperson.

For the most part, supermarket customers appear to be taking the spinach recall in stride and are not altering their produce purchasing habits significantly. At least that is the view of a handful of retailers interviewed by The Produce News from different regions of the country, which mirrors many media reports across the nation.

NAPLES, FL -- Members of the Florida produce industry were afforded opportunities to improve their businesses with a combination of educational and networking events during the 63rd annual convention of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association held Sept. 17-19 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, here. The theme of the convention was "Market Smart."

Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. hired Brian McLaughlin to its executive management team as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

SALINAS, CA -- Salinas native David Gattis, who launched Simplified Procurement here in July 2004 in conjunction with The Chuck Olsen Co. of Visalia, CA, moved on and started a Salinas division of Custom Produce Sales on Sept. 1.

SALINAS, CA -- As the ripple effect of the nationwide fresh spinach recall continues, some longtime industry veterans are calling it the worst such episode they have ever witnessed.

Joe Pezzini of Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms and chair of Salinas- based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said that the focus should be on the woman who died and those who got sick from tainted spinach.