Reduced strawberry acreage statewide — most notably in Southern California other than the Oxnard district — combined with inclement weather in January, has foreshadowed what projected to be a disappointing Valentine's Day pull for grower-shippers in the Southern California strawberry deal.

But hope springs eternal, and springtime strawberry volumes for Easter and beyond may make up for an apparent Valentine’s Day massacre.

Paganini Foods LLC, based in Swedesboro, NJ, filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition Feb. 1 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, under case No. 10-13006.

The attorney for the debtor is Harry J. Giacometti of Smith Giacometti LLC, in Haddonfield, NJ.

LONG BEACH, CA -- The Fresh Produce & Floral Council introduced its new slate of officers, including Chairman Patty Knoll of Temkin International, at its annual dinner dance held Saturday night, Jan. 30, at the Westin Long Beach, here. This marked the first time the event was held at this venue.

Border Cold Storage recently installed and commissioned an Ensure-FS ozone fumigation system manufactured by Guardian Manufacturing located in Cocoa, FL. This installation marks the first Ensure-FS system to be installed in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, according to the company.

REIDSVILLE, GA -- Shuman Produce will share details about its new food safety program along with new packaging at the company's booth at the Southeast Produce Council's expo Saturday, March 6, in Tampa, FL, part of the council's 2010 Retail & Foodservice Conference & Exposition, known as Southern Exposure.