HOUSTON -- Consumer research and analysis of scan data reveal that the fresh-cut category continues to be in a very strong growth mode, and produce suppliers should continue to look for new opportunities in this arena.

At least that was the major take-home point during a workshop at the recent Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit, here, that covered the shopping and buying habits of American consumers.

Selah, WA-based Rainier Fruit Co. recently announced that it expects to market over 500,000 euro cartons of Honeycrisp apples during the 2007-08 shipping season, a significant increase over last year.

Due in part to young orchards coming into production, this year's crop is also producing exceptionally large fruit, resulting in good promotion opportunities. Moreover, supplies should run through March, a full two months longer than the 2006 crop.

HOUSTON -- Seald Sweet International LLC, based in Vero Beach, FL, has gained a lot of publicity in recent years for being a subsidiary of Uni-Veg Group, based in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium, which operates in 22 countries, owns dozens of major produce companies around the world and is linking those firms, including Seald Sweet, to be a global produce network.

Contrary to what might be expected, the Federal Trade Commission has not stopped its efforts to block the merger of Whole Foods Markets and Wild Oats, even though the acquisition has been completed.

The FTC went to court this summer to block the acquisition, and it initially lost the case. However, the commission filed an appeal in the District of Columbia's Court of Appeals and received a temporary injunction that temporarily stalled the efforts of Whole Foods. Eventually, the judge in the case vacated the stay and allowed the acquisition to move forward, which it did.

Reliable Organics, an organic tomato-farming company based in Cedar Creek, TX, has reached terms for $2 million in funding from the investment firm Venio Capital Partners.

The funding will enable Reliable Organics to more than double its current production of locally grown organic greenhouse tomatoes the first year and then double again in 2008. The facility is currently a half-acre in size, and will expand to a full acre. It will produce approximately 10,000 pounds per week per acre.

PACA creditors who were owed about $500,000 were close to reaching a settlement agreement with ATS LLC (formerly known as Arkansas Tomato Shippers), which suspended operations the third week of October.

Priscilla Grannis of the law firm Rynn & Janowsky told The Produce News Oct. 31 that every time the phone rings, "I hope it is the debtor's counsel accepting the terms of an agreement. I am hopeful that we can get it done by the end of this week; if not, then early next week."