Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of its plans to sell its stores to the Yucaipa Cos., with the first-day motions seemingly approving sufficient funds to cover PACA Trust produce creditors.

Elise O'Brien, an attorney with Rynn & Janowsky, a Newport Beach, CA-based law firm specializing in PACA law, said that sufficient funds were allocated as a result of those motions to pay also PACA Trust claims as well as current produce debts.

HAC Inc., an employee-owned supermarket chain based in Oklahoma, acquired 11 stores that were formally owned by Belle Foods. This will add four banners to the HAC group: Piggly Wiggly, Belle Foods, Food World and Southern Family Market. Ten of the stores are in Georgia, and the remaining location is in Alabama.

The stores, ranging in size from 20,000 to 45,000 square feet, began transitioning to the HAC group Oct. 1 and will continue over the first two weeks of October. Associated Wholesale Grocers will supply the 11 locations out of Nashville, TN.

A definitively American tradition that began in the 1950s as a Halloween promotion has a new “easy-as-pie” spin this fall season with the Caramel Apples Made Easy promotional partnership designed by Associated Food Stores based in Salt Lake City.

Featuring sweet and crunchy apples from Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, and the velvety smooth covering from Werther’s Original Baking Caramels, the promotion provides a boxed bundle deal that launched in late September and will run through Halloween.

Greenhouse grower Mastronardi Produce announced the launch of its all-new, highly graphic and content-rich website. The entire website is outfitted with responsive coding, providing consumers and buyers optimal viewing experiences.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, headquartered in Wenatachee, WA, encourages attendees at this year’s Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit to stop by Booth 5539 and find out why 2013 has been an exciting year for the company.

“The PMA Fresh Summit allows us to be in front of the industry as a whole,” Dan Wohlford, national marketing representative, said about the importance of the venue. “Most everybody attends. It gives us the opportunity to meet with our current customer base as well as meet with prospective partners, too.”

Nichole Towell, director of marketing for Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., headquartered in Oviedo, FL, said that the company, a leading national grower, marketer and shipper of vegetables and fruits, including citrus, would be exhibiting at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in New Orleans Oct. 18-20.

“This will be our 24th year exhibiting at the PMA Fresh Summit,” said Towell. “We’re very excited to be in New Orleans this year. It’s a great town with a fun vibe that fits perfectly with our playful theme.”