WASHINGTON — If produce companies were questioning whether the Food & Drug Administration would use a new enforcement tool and shut down a food plant under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, ask nut processor Portales, NM-based Sunland Inc.

Sunland became the first business to have its food facility registration suspended by the FDA, thereby shutting it down, after its testing records showed it shipped Salmonella-positive products, the FDA said in a Nov. 26 letter from Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to Sunland President Jimmie Shearer.

Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, know that its “Southern Selects” French beans are so special and well-suited for holiday meals with family and friends, that they decided to adorn it with a big red holiday bow this year. The new pack was introduced at the PMA Fresh Summit in October, and is available to retailers during the months on November and December.

Malena Produce Inc. in Nogales, AZ, will have increases in several commodities for the coming winter season and will be adding a few new ones, according to Vice President Gonzalo Avila.

Some of the product expansions will extend the company's shipping season as well.

Representing the diversity of the Canadian produce industry and to strengthen the industry's voice with elected officials, the Canadian Horticultural Council and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association hosted industry representatives from across the produce supply chain during the 2012 Fresh Harvest Event.

Hans and Esther Brand, owners of B&H Flowers in Carpinteria, CA, announced Nov. 15 that B&H has officially emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.

“After 18 months of reorganizing and streamlining,” they said in a statement, “on Nov. 8, the court approved B&H’s plan of reorganization.”

MIAMI — “What’s Next?” was the theme, and it covered both the new generation of leaders and the dominance of social media in the industry in the years ahead. The annual Floral Distribution Conference for the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association’s was the event, held here Oct. 24-26.