TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced Dec. 9 that the Florida citrus industry has overwhelmingly voted to continue funding a self-imposed tax to conduct important research for another six years.

Consensus was reached through a statewide referendum that concluded Dec. 9.

PORTLAND, OR -- Kevin Moffitt, president and chief executive officer of the Pear Bureau Northwest, has been named chairman of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council.

Dwight Ferguson has been named chief executive officer and president of Naturipe Farms, effective Jan. 4, 2010.

Mr. Ferguson, who left a similar position at Eurofresh Inc., Willcox, AZ, last month, takes over for Rich Amirsehhi, who has been serving as interim CEO since the departure of Bruce Peterson earlier this year.

Prime Produce International LLC, an avocado importer, packer and marketer founded in 2004 by Avi Crane, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy Dec. 4 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central District of California in Santa Ana, CA, and ceased operation as of the same date.

The bankruptcy petition was filed by the company's attorney, John T. Hanson of San Francisco. Bankruptcy trustee is John M. Wolfe of Irvine, CA. The case is assigned to Judge Robert N. Kwan.

Hold the top sirloin, fried chicken and barbecue. A study conducted by Monterey, CA-based Dole Fresh Vegetables suggests that residents of a number of U.S. cities known for their meat-eating ways may actually prefer salad.

The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee has partnered with OSI Restaurant Partners, the Tampa, FL-based owner of Outback Steakhouse, on a new promotion on the Facebook social media web site that includes a program to give away a blooming onion appetizer to participants. Coupons are currently being distributed to the first 500,000 people who sign up as fans on Outback's Facebook page.