More retailers than ever before decked their aisles with spectacular spud displays in February in hopes hopes of winning a share of the $150,000 in cash and prizes awarded in the Idaho Potato Commission’s Potato Lover’s Month Retail Display Contest.

Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk, chief executive officer of Seald Sweet International-Univeg Group, was honored at the 2011 United Fresh Reception Honoring Women in Produce .

WEATHER

Salinas, CA: Daytime highs will briefly reach the mid-80s May 4 and 5, then quickly retreat to the low to mid-60s through May 10. Overnight lows will be in the mid- to upper 40s.

Bakersfield, CA: Daytime highs will briefly reach the low 90s May 4, 5 and 6, then slide back into the mid-70s through May 10. Overnight lows will be in the mid-60s through May 6, then drop into the low to mid-50s through May 10.

DEMAND

NEW ORLEANS -- In an effort to enhance the image of fresh-cut produce while at the same time educating both buyers and consumers on the strong selling points of value-added products, the United Fresh Produce Association has designed a "toolkit" specific to that market segment.

Starting with Vidalia onions and Georgia blueberries, Georgia commodities will fly high this summer with Atlanta-based Delta Airlines.

Spring is officially here, and the juice experts at Ocean Spray want to sparkle up the season with more than just warm weather.