Cimino Brokerage Co., a firm based in Salinas, CA, that mostly sells broccoli, green onions and other vegetables grown in Mexico, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Jose, CA, in late November. The petition lists Vincent Cimino as the responsible party and calls for the first creditor's meeting to be held Dec. 16, with proof of claims due three months later. The petition does not list the size of the current debt, but industry sources say it is a multi-million-dollar bankruptcy with the firm's bank, Wells Fargo, the largest creditor. No produce growers or

OXNARD, CA -- The world's largest fresh-cut onion processing plant is the topic of a "How It's Made" segment appearing 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, on Discovery's Science Channel (check local listings to confirm the time). The "How It's Made" series presents behind-the-scenes views of interesting and unusual manufacturing processes from around the world. Gills Onions' "How It's Made" segment provides a unique, inside view of how fresh-cut onions are readied for market. In the 1980s, farming brothers Steve and David Gill were asked by La Victoria, a jarred salsa manufacturer, to provide diced onions

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced Dec. 9 that the Florida citrus industry has overwhelmingly voted to continue funding a self-imposed tax to conduct important research for another six years. Consensus was reached through a statewide referendum that concluded Dec. 9. The citrus research order continuation was also amended to increase the industry's self-imposed tax to a maximum of 3 cents per box, and to establish the Citrus Research & Development Foundation as the research advisory council to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer

PORTLAND, OR -- Kevin Moffitt, president and chief executive officer of the Pear Bureau Northwest, has been named chairman of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council. Mr. Moffitt was first elected by the council's board of directors as an officer in 2005 with the position of secretary-treasurer, after having demonstrated his commitment to the membership by serving as chairman of the Electronics Communications Committee, which was instrumental in the complete overhaul of the council's website in 2003. In 2007 he assumed the role of vice chairman, and at the councils Nov. 19, 2009

Dwight Ferguson has been named chief executive officer and president of Naturipe Farms, effective Jan. 4, 2010. Mr. Ferguson, who left a similar position at Eurofresh Inc., Willcox, AZ, last month, takes over for Rich Amirsehhi, who has been serving as interim CEO since the departure of Bruce Peterson earlier this year. Mr. Amirsehhi, who is Naturipe's chairman of the board of directors, announced the appointment in a Dec. 9 press release, stating, "In this role, Dwight will be responsible for the successful day-to-day management, growth and sustainability of Naturipe Farms. Working with the

Prime Produce International LLC, an avocado importer, packer and marketer founded in 2004 by Avi Crane, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy Dec. 4 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central District of California in Santa Ana, CA, and ceased operation as of the same date. The bankruptcy petition was filed by the company's attorney, John T. Hanson of San Francisco. Bankruptcy trustee is John M. Wolfe of Irvine, CA. The case is assigned to Judge Robert N. Kwan. Explaining the cause of the bankruptcy, Mr. Crane furnished The Produce News with a written statement Dec. 7 that said, "The developer of the software used