The ballot mail-in period for the quadrennial referenda on continuation of federal marketing orders for California peaches and nectarines began Jan. 12 and continues through Feb. 2.

"For the orders to continue, at least two-thirds of the growers voting in the referenda or growers representing at least two-thirds of the volume of nectarines, pears and peaches represented in the referenda must vote in favor of the order," according to a Dec. 13 press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service.

Results of a special survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Florida Field Office, conducted Jan. 10-11 and released Jan. 18, show that Florida citrus survived record-shattering cold through December and early January in remarkably good shape. Most damage to fruit and trees was minor, and the majority of Florida's groves escaped the bitter winter weather intact.

Chicago wholesaler Auster Acquisitions LLC, located on the Chicago International Produce Market, has apparently closed its doors in mid-January amid a number of lawsuits claiming non-payment for produce deliveries.

The firm did not return repeated telephone calls from The Produce News requesting comment.

The Chilean fruit industry is working to improve industry sales through a program of wide benefit. The premise is to solve the problem that produce department profits are suffering because retailers have such a difficult time keeping trained, experienced help.

"We have a big enough stake" in produce department success “to put a thumb in the dike” to stem the flow of a “hemorrhage in the retail business,” said Tom Tjerandsen, managing director of North America for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, the Chilean fruit promotion group based in Sonoma, CA.

Walter LePage, one of the founders of the Washington State Potato Commission, died Jan. 12 in Pasco, WA, at the age of 97.

Mr. LePage was born Aug. 13, 1913, in Santa Ana, CA. His family sold its grocery store shortly after his birth and moved to a number of states, including Wyoming, Texas and Missouri.

Julia Stewart, who for the past two-and-a-half years has served as public relations director for the Produce Marketing Association, is stepping down from that post. Her last day is Friday, Jan. 21.

Ms. Stewart, who wrote in an email that she remains "passionate about our industry," cited family obligations as her reason for leaving the association. She said that she wants to devote more time to her two young children, and that she is engaged to be married this spring to Dennis Courtier, an apple grower and marketer.