On Feb. 19, representatives from Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, were the only bidders for the farming operations of Zappala Farms LLC in Cato, NY, including its "Empire Sweets" trademark, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of New York, in Syracuse, NY. The deal, which has been in the works for four or five months, "is official now," said Michael Hively, chief financial officer and general manager of Bland Farms, which succeeded in purchasing the onion-growing farm. "We have been funding the operation for about three weeks," he said March 25. Delbert Bland, chief executive

INDIANAPOLIS -- In anticipation of the upcoming summer season, Imagination Farms is adding two new suppliers, SGS and Dayka & Hackett LLC, providing stone fruit and grapes to the "Disney Garden" offerings. In addition, the suppliers will also roll out new promotions and branded packaging to keep the Disney Garden product line exciting for consumers. "During the past three seasons, we have experienced incremental growth in our stone fruit program, Don Goodwin, chief operating officer of Imagination Farms, said in a March 25 statement. The addition of SGS and Dayka & Hackett LLC as new

In mid-March, Mexico levied tariffs on dozens of U.S. products as a retaliatory measure to the ending of a cross-border trucking program that allowed a specific number of Mexican trucks to deliver their loads past the 20-25-mile commercial zone and to the point of destination within the United States. The Obama administration announced the week of March 23 that it was engaged in efforts to end the dispute and hoped to do so by the time President Obama travels to Mexico in April. Ken Gilliland, director of international trade and transportation for Western Growers Association in Irvine, CA

BI-LO LLC, a South Carolina-based supermarket chain of more than 200 stores owned by Lone Star Funds, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection March 23, apparently in relation to a $260 million debt obligation that was maturing three days later. In a press release announcing the action, the company said that it "intends to use the court-supervised process to address an upcoming debt maturity," and it "expects to reach mutually acceptable resolutions with all of its constituencies and to exit bankruptcy as expeditiously as possible." The press release also noted that BI-LO stores will remain

Ocean Mist Farms is working with nationally known food expert Art Ginsburg, also known as Mr. Food, to show Americans just how easy it is to cook artichokes. Ocean Mist partnered with Mr. Food to produce two 90-second segments that will air on television stations in more than 200 markets across the country March 30-31. Hugely popular and watched by millions, Mr. Food was the first TV chef to promote practical cooking and food-preparation solutions, according to Ocean Mist. After more than 30 years of sharing his unique brand of quick and easy food tips and recipes with viewers across the

SACRAMENTO, CA -- While a national debate on how to improve the safety of the U.S. food supply continues, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was honored by the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement for his role in developing an innovative food safety program. The award was presented March 24 to Gov. Schwarzenegger as part of the state's celebration of Ag Day. Three years ago, Mr. Schwarzenegger saw the need for increased government oversight of food safety systems within the leafy greens industry following an E. coli outbreak associated with spinach. Mr. Schwarzenegger, working with