Indicating that it is too early in the process and expressing reservations about releasing the main bank from liability claims, Alabama Bankruptcy Judge Tamara Mitchell basically rejected the settlement proposal put forth by the bank and the produce firm's largest PACA creditors.

A group of PACA creditors representing a much smaller portion of the debt objected to the settlement and their position was victorious, though their effort to move the PACA portion of the case to a District Court was also denied.

“We launched a new tropical division this year that has been a very exciting and educational experience,” said Roni Okun of Morris Okun Inc., a full-service produce company located on the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market in the Bronx, NY. “We are handling items that appeal to the ethnic trade, and we are sourcing from around the world.”

Ms. Okun added that for her personally, growing up in New York on Jewish-American food, the new tropical line is particularly interesting.

Thanks to irrigation and a good dose of sunshine, Sweet Clover Produce’s Walla Walla sweets were in excellent shape in early May, according to Sweet Clover Sales Manager Bill Brownfield.

Mr. Brownfield said the two primary growers of the famed sweet non-storage onion, Grotz Bros. and Fernando Enriquez, were anticipating a traditional shipping start of mid-June.

“Everything is growing well,” Mr. Brownfield said. “We’re expecting business as usual with the Walla Wallas.”

Watsonville, CA-based California Giant Berry Farms announced GARY BERTONE as its logistics manager on May 9.

In his new role, Mr. Bertone will be responsible for managing all prepaid freight for customers, track daily freight rates and negotiate rates with carriers, according to the company press release.

The watermelon season got off to an early start in most growing areas, but with an early finish to the Florida season, reduced yields from Mexico and hailstorms pounding the Texas crop, supplies are not as abundant as had been predicted, resulting in potentially tight supplies for the Fourth of July on the East Coast and significantly higher pricing than 2011 in all areas.

The week of May 14, prices for seedless watermelons were varying between 16 and 20 cents per pound, well above the 10-12 cents they were fetching at the same point last year.

Ronnie Cohen, vice president of sales for Vision Import Group in River Edge, NJ, told The Produce News that the company has formed a strategic alliance with Ben Brittain, a highly seasoned produce professional, in Pharr, TX.