NEWS ROUNDUP 1994-09-26 (1)

Organic Foods Group Renamed

a move to better represent its expanding membership, the Organic Foods Production Association of North America here has changed its name to the Organic Trade Association.

"We changed our name to more appropriately reflect the breadth of our focus and to incorporate the nonfood agricultural products such as cotton and cosmetics," said Robert Anderson, president of Walnut Acres, Penns Creek, Pa., and the newly elected board president of the association.

The association was founded in 1985. Its membership has grown to include producers of organic food and nonfood products, but Anderson said its mission has not changed. "We continue to provide the legislative, educational and promotional programs to build markets [for organic products] and protect the integrity of organic standards," he said.

The trade group elected several new members to its board, including two supermarket executives. New directors are Walter Robb, president of Whole Foods Market, San Francisco, and Goldie Coughlin, nutrition educator, Puget Consumers Co-op in Seattle.

Fresh Express Has Produce Tips

SALINAS, Calif. -- Fresh Express Farms here has just released an educational poster designed to teach store-level produce clerks how to maintain the freshness of packaged salad mixes.

Entitled "Keeping It Fresh," the poster explains that proper temperature control is the most important factor in maintaining shelf life and quality. If salad mixes are held below 45 degrees, the poster says, shelf life can be extended to 14 days.

The poster describes procedures for proper rotation of products and for keeping bags intact. It lists a toll-free phone number produce clerks can call for additional information on care and handling.