As a leading importer of mangos from Peru, Ventura, CA-based Freska Produce International is experiencing heavy volumes, said the firm's Chuy Loza.

"So far, Peru exports are ahead of schedule," Mr. Loza said. "Now through the latter part of the season, the market should stay very strong."

One might say it all depends on how you look at it.

Any way you look at it, California's week-long deep freeze was costly to citrus growers and packers. It will mean missed sales opportunities for retailers. And it will be a hardship on thousands of workers on farms and in packinghouses who will be out of work or have their hours curtailed because of the short crop.

BASILICATA, ITALY -- Produce, food and wine distributors, importers, and buyers from around the world toured production facilities and farms throughout the Basilicata region of Italy Jan. 16-20. Members of the group of approximately 25 people came from nearly every corner of the world, such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Abu Dhabi, the United States and Russia, and included national officials from some of the countries and several journalists.

PLEASANTON, CA - A capacity crowd of more than than 200 industry professionals attended a special Fresh Produce & Floral Council Northern California luncheon Jan. 30 at the Crown Plaza Hotel, here.

Master of ceremonies for the event was Geoff White of Safeway Stores Inc., and Tony ("The Fresh Grocer") Tantillo of Farm Fresh LLC was the guest speaker.

The cold front that moved through California in mid-January has resulted in higher f.o.b. prices for many vegetables, citrus and strawberries, which are being reflected at retail across the country.

"We don't jump our prices right away," said Mark Maxwell of H.G. Hill Stores, a small chain in Nashville, TN. "We wait until our costs go up and then we do pass the increases on to our customers."

Carolina Tomato Inc. in Columbia, SC, has ceased operations and owes its creditors as much as $15 million.

The firm's attorney, O. Max Gardner III, sent a letter dated Jan. 23 to many of the firm's produce creditors asking that they do not take legal action and instead consider a yet-to-be determined settlement offer.