The “Lil Snapper” brand of apples, pears and citrus created by Stemilt Growers LLC continues to provide retailers with ongoing opportunities to boost sales while helping children eat more healthily. “The big deal is still our ‘Lil Snapper’ line,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News. “We are really pushing the Gala/Navel mixed bag for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are lining up a lot of customer demand for this bag and feel it will be a homerun.”

Anthony M. DeAngelis, director, Northeast Division for Christopher Ranch, headquartered in Gilroy, CA, told The Produce News that the company recently relocated its Northeast facility to 78 Mayfield Ave., but it is still in Raritan Center in Edison, NJ.

A four-alarm blaze occurred the morning of Nov. 20 at the Hunts Point market in the Bronx, NY. The blaze started at 11 a.m.

About 200 firefighters were on the scene, with reports of four firefighters suffering minor injuries.

Hunts Point officials said operations were expected to continue normally, according to a NBC News report.

C&K Market Inc. has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to address legacy costs, sell or close underperforming stores and resolve debt issues. C&K’s operations are expected to continue as normal throughout the bankruptcy process as it develops a reorganization plan.

An off-the-record meeting between the owners of Jensen Farms in Holly, CO, and the families of victims of a 2011 Listeria outbreak took place Nov. 19 at the federal courthouse in Denver.

The families and relatives of all victims affected by the outbreak were invited. Attorney William Marler said only a handful of the victims were in attendance at the meeting.

Representatives from the stores that sold the contaminated fruit and inspectors who reviewed operations at Jensen Farms facilities were not invited to the meeting.

Vidalia onion growers have spent decades building their product’s name and reputation. Now, they are making moves to protect that image. Beginning with the 2014 season, no Vidalia onions will be packed or shipped before 12:01 a.m. on the Monday of the last full week of April each year, which will be April 21 for the upcoming season.

In recent years, some growers have rolled the season start back earlier and earlier, a move that others believe has been putting lesser quality early season onions on the market.