Eclipse Berry Farms files for bankruptcy
The Los Angeles, Calif.-based Eclipse Berry Farms and it subsidiaries Rosalyn Farms LLC and Harvest Moon Strawberry Farms have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the debtor typically creates a plan of reorganization to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time.
Ryan Du, accounts payable for Eclipse Berry, said Jan. 18 that the firm will continue to operate but gave no timeline on the company’s future plans. He said Stuart Gilfenbain, former marketing director for the company, was no longer with Eclipse Berry.
The document, filed Jan. 16 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, estimates more than 200 creditors and liabilities of more than $50 million. Estimated assets are between $10 million and $50 million, according to the document.
The court document said Ventura Strawberry Farms Inc. and the Gilfenbain Family Trust are listed as owner-members of Eclipse Berry Farms and its subsidiaries Rosalyn Farms and Harvest Moon Strawberry Farm.
Eclipse Berry Farm on Sept. 6 appointed Robert Marcus of Maksimovich & Associates as chief restructuring officer to implement procedures necessary to “maximize the recovery” for creditors.
The top five creditors are:
- Ventura Strawberry Farms, Calabasas, Calif., for $8 million;
- Robert Mann Packaging Inc., Oxnard, Calif., $5.99 million;
- Tri Cal Inc., Gilroy, Calif., $3.04 million;
- Jerue Truck Broker Inc., Lakeland, Fla., $2.28 million; and
- Crop Production Services, Salinas, Calif., $1.7 million.
