Unprecedented cold temperatures will soon descend upon much of the West and Southwest. California citrus growers in the Central Valley are bracing for a string of cold temperatures Jan. 11-18. Snow is forecast on the valley floor Jan. 12 near Bakersfield. Daytime highs will range from 39 to 55 degrees with overnight lows in the low 20s to 30 degrees. Wind chill temperatures the nights of Jan. 13, 14 and 15 will be in the teens.

FRESNO, CA -- The recent rash of news reports about food-related illnesses has motivated the food industry to intensify the already high level of attention being given to food safety practices and protocols. From growers to restaurateurs to retailers, people at every level of the produce supply chain have been taking a hard look at their practices -- and their documentation of those practices -- to be sure that all bases are covered.

Gerald (Wink) Edmonds, 63, who worked for Global Produce Sales in Winter Haven, FL, died of cancer Jan. 2 at Winter Haven's Bartow Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Edmonds was born Sept. 6, 1943, in Flint, MI. He moved to Florida in 1970. He had been working for Global Produce Sales in Lakeland since 1995. Prior to 1995 he sold citrus for Lake Wales C.G.A. in Lake Wales, FL.

WILMINGTON, DE -- Twenty million boxes of Chilean fruit will be received through the port of Wilmington this season, according to Thomas Keefer, the port's deputy executive director.

The port's Chilean deliveries come from the steamship line Pacific Seaways, which carries breakbulk, palletized fruit for a variety of exporters. Joining the Pacific Seaways shipping cooperative this year is Dole Deciduous, based in Philadelphia.

Pacific Seaways will bring about 200,000 pallets to Wilmington from Chile this season. This is 14,000 pallets more than a year ago.

WASHINGTON -- Two growers told stories of labor shortages in the fields and orchards at a Jan. 10 press conference that marked the beginning of the agricultural worker debate in the new Democrat-controlled Congress.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) reintroduced the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits & Security Act Jan. 10. Reps. Chris Cannon (R-UT), Howard Berman (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) introduced the House companion bill the same day.

With no smoking gun, Taco Bell supplier Ready Pac Produce Inc. finds itself in an awkward position.

"We're trying to put the feathers back in the pillow that [the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention] and [the Food & Drug Administration] pulled out," said Steve Dickstein, marketing vice president for Ready Pac. "We're as dumbfounded as anybody."