Processor Bouncing Checks

The nation´s second-largest frozen-berry processing company has stopped accepting strawberries and has bounced checks, leaving local growers trying to find someone to process their fruit. New West Foods wouldn´t comment about its status, but farmers say the company stopped taking fruit about three weeks ago. So far, the California Strawberry Commission says New West´s decision to stop processing hasn´t yet adversely affected the frozen strawberry market. About 28-thousand acres of land in California are used to grow strawberries.