Facing mounting financial woes, Plant City, FL-based East Coast Brokers & Packers has filed a voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. The longtime tomato growing/shipping operation submitted the petition earlier this month with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division).
The petition indicated that the “estimated number of creditors were reported in a range of 200 to 999, while asset estimates were reported to range between $50 million to $100 million, and estimated liabilities were reported to range between $50 million to $100 million.”
Associated pending bankruptcy cases noted within the filing also include:
- Circle M. Ranch Inc.
- Oakwood Place Inc.
- Ruskin Vegetable Corporation
- Eastern Shore Properties Inc.
- Stellaro Bay Inc.
- Byrd Foods of Virginia Inc.
According to a statement released by Batista and Evelyn Madonia (the company’s owners), intentions are to keep operations running and rebuild the business.