Carolina Tomato Inc. in Columbia, SC, has ceased operations and owes its creditors as much as $15 million. The firm's attorney, O. Max Gardner III, sent a letter dated Jan. 23 to many of the firm's produce creditors asking that they do not take legal action and instead consider a yet-to-be determined settlement offer. In his letter, Mr. Gardner said that he expects to have a disclosure ready in 10 days, which is expected to detail assets and debts. Mr. Gardner said that there was potentially $6 million of debt that would be forgiven by two different creditors if the other creditors would agree

For the past year, there have been abundant rumors, industry speculation and even movement from Tesco confirming that this giant European-based grocery retailer is coming to the United States. In fact, the name of the retailer's U.S. chain is now known (though not confirmed) and many locations have been identified. The company has disclosed very little official information about its foray into the U.S. market, and no one from the company was available to be interviewed for this story. A Tesco spokesperson in the United Kingdom said that any information would have to come from the international

Bruce Peterson, 53, has confirmed that he has resigned his position at Wal- Mart and will "pursue other aspects of my career most likely related to the produce industry." Mr. Peterson, who has been with Wal-Mart for 15 years, told The Produce News Friday, Feb. 2, that he has been considering his future in recent years but the decision to leave Wal-Mart was rather sudden. "But it was my choice," he added. He does expect to resurface in the produce industry though not with another retailer. "I have a two-year non-compete, so I won't join another retailer even if I wanted to," he said. Mr

Debra Tengs, who served as transportation manager and administrative assistant for Snake River Produce in Nyssa, OR, died Dec. 28 after losing her year-long battle with lung cancer. She was 53. Ms. Tengs was born April 3, 1953, in Tucumcari, NM. She moved to California while in her teens and began working in the produce industry after college. She eventually settled in Nyssa to raise her family. According to Snake River Produce General Manager Kay Riley, Ms. Tengs was diagnosed with cancer a year ago. Mr. Riley said that she maintained her positive attitude during chemotherapy, despite being

GREELEY, CO -- Attendees at the Colorado Onion Association annual meeting, here, Jan. 25, were provided with a snapshot of the condition of the industry on the state, national and international levels, and had an opportunity to learn more about significant changes to the employment verification process in Colorado. "The onion industry is enjoying prices that aren't the norm," National Onion Association Executive Vice President Wayne Mininger told the audience. "It may be another 36 years before this happens again." According to Mr. Mininger, Colorado f.o.b. prices for 50-pound sacks were $19

The produce industry's United Fresh Marketplace and the Food Marketing Institute's supermarket show will go it alone in Las Vegas in 2008, as the Fancy Food Show and All Things Organic announced they will be staying in Chicago. In recent years, United Fresh has marketed its May trade show as a way for attendees to participate in five shows - the United Produce Show, the Fancy Foods Show, All Things Organic, U.S. Food Export Showcase and FMI Supermarket Industry Exhibition -- for one admission price. The show organizers have maintained that all five shows would allow participants to be exposed