WASHINGTON -- Third-party auditors got a black eye Jan. 10 when the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee released a report showing how auditing procedures failed to catch problems in Jensen Farms' operation that led to a massive Listeria outbreak tied to cantaloupe last year.

At least 146 people were infected and 30 people died as a result of the outbreak that was traced back to Colorado-grown cantaloupe.

The new report and a letter to the Food & Drug Administration show Congress's frustration with the performance of third-party audits in the food industry.

WASHINGTON -- After failing to reach a deal on the farm bill last year, Congress will begin writing a bill that specialty crop producers hope can survive the budget-cutting mood on Capitol Hill.

"I expect the House and Senate to work very hard to produce a farm bill before it expires on September 30," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association.

But the challenge will be navigating the complex bill through both chambers of Congress made up of lawmakers who have differing views of agriculture, he explained.

Chinese New Year celebrations will begin Jan. 23, ushering in the Year of the Dragon. The holiday is the longest and most important on the Chinese calendar, and is a time of giving, cleansing and communion. The dragon, part of the Chinese horoscope, is a symbol of luck. Festivities continue until the conclusion of Chinese New Year Feb. 9.

Nielsen Holdings N.V., a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers watch and buy, has acquired the Perishables Group Inc., an expert in fresh food consulting and category development.

Nielsen acquired all company assets including data, advanced analytic IP, tools and ongoing client work. All employees of the Chicago based company will join Nielsen’s North America Consumer Analytics team.

Tom Deardorff II, president of Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, CA, told The Produce News the company is continuing to increase the production of all of its core organic items.

“We are now starting to harvest strawberries in Oxnard, and supplies will be good through May,” said Mr. Deardorff. “We also have various pack style additions, including for our celery hearts, romaine hearts and our eight-ounce strawberries.”