The owners of East Coast Brokers & Packers in Plant City, FL, have filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 in a Florida court and have indicated in a statement to the press that they will continue operating.

According to the Tampa Bay Tribune, Evelyn and Batista Madonia Sr. are well-known in the Plant City area and also own the Red Rose Inn & Suites, which has been closed since last May. The same article states that the biggest creditor in the bankruptcy is Met Life Agricultural Investments, which is owed $46 million.

“We will have good volumes of French beans, papayas, limes and specialty value added vegetable items on display at the upcoming NEPC Expo,” Daryl Johnston, vice president of sales for Pompano Beach, FL-based Southern Specialties Inc. “I will be joined at booth number 342 by Charlie Eagle, vice president of marketing and business development.”

Goldens and Fujis, seeing steady movement despite the presence of imported fruit in the marketplace, represent value to consumers and a reliable focal point for retailers, according to Scott Marboe, marketing director for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA.

“Spice World certainly is exhibiting at the NEPC Expo,” Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, told The Produce News. “We will be at booth number 527.”

He noted that Drew Caneza, sales representative, Arden Laughter, also a sales representative, and Chris Whitson, vice president of sales would be at the company’s booth at the New England Produce Council Expo to greet and meet with customers.

“It is nice to pick up new business,” Bruce Klein, director of marketing for Maurice A. Auerbach, located in Secaucus, NJ, told The Produce News. “But our priority has always been to first service our existing, loyal customer bank. We have many customers in New England, and the New England Produce Council’s annual Produce and Floral Expo provides us with a great opportunity to meet with produce buyers and managers whom we would otherwise seldom have the opportunity to see.”

Kathy Hearl, marketing promotions manager for Fort Pierce, FL-based DNE World Fruit LLC said that the company will be exhibiting at the 2013 New England Produce & Floral Council Expo at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston at booth number 327.

“Tom Cowan, South African sales manager and Stu Monaghan, national marketing manager and Australian sales manager, will both be at the show to greet and meet with visitors,” said Ms. Hearl. “DNE is currently promoting Florida grapefruit and Valencia oranges. We will have some of both on hand at the expo.”