"Never in the history of the [California citrus] industry have we been so united," said Philip LoBue, president of LoBue Bros. Inc., a citrus packinghouse in Lindsay, CA, who was elected chairman of the board of directors of California Citrus Mutual at the organization's recent annual meeting.

Stan Pohmer, founder and chief executive officer of Pohmer Consulting Group, received the 2005 Floral Marketer of the Year Award during the Nov. 6 breakfast general session at the Produce Marketing Association's 2005 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta.

This marks the 25th annual presentation of the award recognizing an outstanding individual who has served the mass-market floral industry with dedication and distinction.

ATLANTA -- With President Bush's signature, which is expected shortly, the start date of mandatory country-of- origin labeling for produce will be officially extended to Sept. 30, 2008.

On Oct. 31, ASOEX, Asociacion de Exportadores de Chile (also known as the Chilean Exporters Association), asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the comment period for an effort by the Coachella growers, known as the Desert Grape League, to change the regulatory periods for grapes that they grow and also for table grapes supplied from Chile and Mexico. This is USDA's Marketing Order 925 and Import Regulation 4.

In early November letters to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, Washington consultant Pat Boss asked the two political leaders to "urge [Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad] to immediately reinstate its dedicated refrigerated intermodal service in central Washington to avoid a potential crisis situation for perishable shipments to Seattle and Tacoma."

ATLANTA -- Standardization in evaluating mangos during inspection should help the industry move forward, according to Leanne Skelton, chief of the fresh products branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ms. Skelton made her comments Nov. 6 to an assembled meeting of the National Mango Board during the Produce Marketing Association's international convention and exposition, here.