Atkins Nutritionals Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in New York July 31 following one of the stronger  and longer  consumer-driven diet trends ever to surface in the United States. In its filing, the company listed assets of $301 million and liabilities of $325 million. Atkins stated that it owes UBS Securities LLC and other lenders roughly $301 million under a 2003 loan. The bankruptcy news is an indication that the low-carb trend is at the least waning, and at the most over completely. And for growers of potatoes, citrus and other fresh produce commodities, the end of this particular

MOSES LAKE, WA -- From the southeastern corner to the Skagit Valley, farmland planted in fresh-market and process potatoes has decreased by 5,000 acres, and most members of the Washington potato industry are looking at the coming season with renewed optimism. Statistics show that last year Washington had 160,000 acres of potatoes, and the reduction keeps with a national trend that has potato acreage down by 7 percent to 1.11 million acres. In its annual acreage report for 2005 crop potatoes, the USDA referenced historical data, noting that this year's acreage is the lowest since 1866, when

In September, the New York Apple Association will roll out a consumer advertising and public relations campaign to promote the 2005 crop. "We're going to have another busy fall promoting apples with advertising and public relations," said Jim Allen, president of the NYAA, who is coordinating the campaign. An extensive advertising program will promote apples on television, radio and through high-end consumer magazines. Heavy advertising over the past two years has been credited with helping drive up consumer demand for apples and apple products. The most extensive part of the 2005 program will

Nuchief Sales Inc. in Wenatchee, WA, announced that it will handle marketing for Congdon Orchards Inc. in Yakima, WA, effective Aug. 1. With the addition of Congdon, Nuchief will represent over 2.5 million cartons of apples, pears, cherries and asparagus. Currently, Nuchief markets for Washington firms Crane & Crane in Brewster, Smith & Nelson in Tonasket and Andrus & Roberts in Sunnyside. As part of the Congdon program, Nuchief will take on the sales for Lloyd Garretson Co., which Congdon has marketed the last three seasons. "We are going to offer our customers a program of strong varietal

For an avocado to meet the increasing demands of health conscious consumers, it's got to have less fat and fewer calories. Its got to be SlimCado, the naturally light alternative to the leading Californian variety. The season is underway for this popular Florida avocado. Brooks Tropicals Inc. has just started picking SlimCados from its groves in south Florida, with shipments carrying through next February. Last season the industry total for all Florida avocados was over 1 million bushels, which was 40 percent higher than the 2003 season. "Our 2005 SlimCado season will be shorter than 2004

San Juan Bautista, CA-based Pride of San Juan has completed additions to its headquarters that add upwards of 112,000 square feet, bringing the total facility size to 178,000 square feet. The move consolidates San Juan Bautista-area operations under one roof; storage of bell peppers and dry vegetables had been done in nearby Hollister, and a warehouse on the PSJ ranch had been used prior to the consolidation. About 100,000 square feet of additional space were used for cooler and production operations. The company added more salad-processing lines and some new equipment that PSJ Sales Manager