PHILADELPHIA -- Many key players in the Chilean fruit business were on hand Nov. 19 to honor Leo Holt, president of Holt Logistics Corp., at the 12th annual Friend of Chile award luncheon. Holt Logistics headquarters are in Gloucester City, NJ.

Bob Norberg, deputy executive director for the Florida Department of Citrus in Lakeland, FL, told The Produce News that the current three-year referendum on citrus, which taxes 1 cent per box to growers for research on citrus diseases, ends with the 2009-10 citrus season.

"We are asking growers if they want to continue to tax themselves to support citrus research and to increase the tax to 3 cents per box," said Mr. Norberg. "Depending on the size of the crop, that would generate between $5 [million] and $5.5 million for continued research."

By now, most of us have become exhausted from the constant reminding about the shaky economy that continues to plague the business world. Repetitive news about the sales and unemployment doldrums has weakened the public morale even further. Negative reports about the economy have become a daily routine.

Mission Produce Inc. in Oxnard, CA, a global avocado and asparagus supplier, has hired Mike Haynes as a sales representative.

Mr. Haynes is a University of Southern California graduate with 20 years in the produce industry. He spent six years with Delta Produce and the last three years with Freska Produce exclusively selling avocados. At Mission, Mr. Haynes will be servicing new and existing retail and foodservice accounts.

The Super Bowl is one of the more popular sporting events of the year, and, equally as important as the game is the food selection at Super Bowl parties.

KENNETT SQUARE, PA -- Construction approvals for local zoning took two years, but persistence has paid off for Manfredi Cold Storage, based here. Frank Manfredi, president of Manfredi Logistics Service, told The Produce News Nov. 20 that the first phase of a warehouse expansion will be open for Chilean fruit business in early February.