Despite strawberries commanding high prices at retail, consumers aren't exactly heading for the exits. Andy Gustavson, produce manager for Ben Lomond Market in Ben Lomond, CA, and produce supervisor for sister store Scotts Valley Market, told The Produce News Jan. 28 that strawberries have been "astronomical" in price. Rainy weather in Southern California and a freeze in Florida had tightened strawberry supplies. More rain was forecast for Southern California Jan. 29 and for later in the week of Feb. 1. A one-pound clamshell of strawberries sold for $5.99 at Ben Lomond Market Jan. 28, and

Reduced strawberry acreage statewide — most notably in Southern California other than the Oxnard district — combined with inclement weather in January, has foreshadowed what projected to be a disappointing Valentine's Day pull for grower-shippers in the Southern California strawberry deal. But hope springs eternal, and springtime strawberry volumes for Easter and beyond may make up for an apparent Valentine’s Day massacre. Craig Casca, chief executive officer of Santa Maria, CA-based Red Blossom Sales Inc., told The Produce News Jan. 22 that he anticipated that he would have only 65 percent of

Paganini Foods LLC, based in Swedesboro, NJ, filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition Feb. 1 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, under case No. 10-13006. The attorney for the debtor is Harry J. Giacometti of Smith Giacometti LLC, in Haddonfield, NJ. The estimated number of creditors was reported in a range of 100 to 199. Asset estimates were reported to range between zero and $50,000, while liabilities were reported to range between $1 million to $10 million. The filing, reported by The Blue Book, indicated that the "debtor estimates that funds will be available for

Calling all cooks: If you have a flair for preparing healthful fare, now is your time to shine. The Idaho Potato Commission is rewarding resourceful home cooks for innovative Idaho potato recipes that bank on flavor and still save cents in its new "Watching Waistlines & Wallets" recipe contest. Consumers were invited beginning Jan. 25 to submit their original, healthful, affordable and easy-to-prepare Idaho potato recipes at www.idahopotato.com for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize. Recipes will be judged by the potato pros on the following criteria: use of Idaho potatoes as the main

LONG BEACH, CA -- The Fresh Produce & Floral Council introduced its new slate of officers, including Chairman Patty Knoll of Temkin International, at its annual dinner dance held Saturday night, Jan. 30, at the Westin Long Beach, here. This marked the first time the event was held at this venue. The dinner dance, which drew a crowd of about 500 produce and floral professionals, had a "Casablanca" theme, featuring a Humphrey Bogart lookalike along with a cigar bar. Many of the men in attendance wore Bogartesque white dinner jackets, and a few even wore a traditional Moroccan fez. Debi Duffin of

Border Cold Storage recently installed and commissioned an Ensure-FS ozone fumigation system manufactured by Guardian Manufacturing located in Cocoa, FL. This installation marks the first Ensure-FS system to be installed in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, according to the company. Border Cold Storage is planning to improve product quality and increase hold time by reducing ethylene as well as mold and bacteria on stored fruits and vegetables from Mexico. This is just one part of Border Cold Storage's plan to improve food safety for product coming through the facility. Guardian's