Latest News From Wholesalers

United Natural Foods Inc. has implemented the tech and strategies to shorten certain delivery times by more than a day and better use its data to deliver fresher produce to its customers.

Ben E. Keith Foods proudly announces its purchase of Florida Food Service, Inc.

After 36 years with the company, Ross Wileman is retiring from Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce.

In this episode of Packer Insight, editor-in-chief Tom Karst, Northeast editor Amy Sowder and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss the California water crisis, the tomato wars and recent acquisition activity.

Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, which supplies more than 7,700 stores across the U.S., has agreed to acquire Sheboygan, Wis.-based Piggly Wiggly Midwest.

Kansas City, Kan.-based Associated Wholesale Grocers plans to expand next year with a new full-line wholesale division in the Upper Midwest, its ninth overall.

The National Association of Perishable Agricultural Receivers annual golf tournament honoring the memory of produce industry leader Pete Class is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 8.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash has promoted Amy McClellan to vice president of fresh merchandising.

You had to crawl out of your comfort zone — if you hadn’t already — to make it as a fruit or vegetable grower in 2020 and going into 2021.

Houston-based Brothers Produce is no longer affiliated with any other Brothers Produce divisions.

Leonardo’s Produce, Detroit, has joined the FreshEdge group of produce and specialty food companies.

Providence, R.I.-based United Natural Foods has committed to setting emissions reduction targets for its operations and its supply chain in an effort to combat climate change.

Denver-based FoodMaven has announced the addition of Bobby Grinstead to its senior leadership team.

Foodservice distributor Golbon, Boise, Idaho, recently recognized members during its annual awards program, an online event this year.

Combs Wholesale Produce Co. is moving to a larger space to capitalize on expanding product lines and customer base.

Margaret Ann Comito, whose husband and children have overseen the growth of the family company, Norwalk, Iowa-based Capital City Fruit Co., has died.

Charlie’s Produce, Seattle, has acquired Muir Copper Canyon Farms, Salt Lake City.

Steve Spinner, CEO of Providence, R.I.-based United Natural Foods, plans to retire no later than July 31, at the end of his contract.

Members of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council 2020 Apprentice Class continue to learn about the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, recently attending virtual tours.

GrubMarket, San Francisco, has entered a new market — Texas — with yet another purchase of a fresh produce distributor.

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed an administrative complaint against Poblano Fresh Produce Corp. for allegedly violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

SpartanNash has selected as its new president and CEO Tony Sarsam, who was most recently the CEO at Borden Dairy Co. and before that was CEO of Irwindale, Calif.-based produce industry company Ready Pac Foods.

Episode 13 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features an interview with Jim White, chairman and CEO of Post Harvest Technologies and Growers Ice Co.

Loffredo Fresh Foods, Des Moines, Iowa, is branching out to Minneapolis, delivering to customers from a new distribution center.

Earl’s Organic Produce, San Francisco, is expanding into space it originally occupied at the San Francisco Market, giving the company almost 90,000 square feet.

Communication is the essential first step in dealing with foodservice staffing and labor challenges, according to Alex DiNovo.

A bipartisan bill has been introduced that would give tax credits to offset uncollectable foodservice sector debt incurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Two produce distributors were awarded multi-million dollar contracts in mid-July to supply fruits and vegetables to schools and Department of Defense customers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed 12 new members to the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.

Fresh Direct Produce Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, has acquired organic produce distributor Mike and Mike’s Inc.

The Oppenheimer Group has acquired a 50% share in Agroretail, a Peruvian produce supplier.

Pharr, Texas-based wholesaler Sweet Seasons spoke with booth visitors at United Fresh Live! about its recently opened online store and kept an eye out for producers and tech companies with which it could partner.

Harold Weisfeld, founder of Fruit Distributing Corp. of California, Commerce, has died.

Kansas City, Kan.-based Associated Wholesale Grocers plans to complete a new distribution hub in Hernando, Miss., in 2023.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has a new board of directors for 2020-21.

After numerous industry questions and an exchange of letters between national trade associations and the USDA, Tom Stenzel believes it is time to focus on the positives of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is rolling out a database to connect growers and distributors with buyers.

The USDA now has the authority under the Defense Production Act to help prevent supply interruptions at FDA-regulated food facilities, including farms, packinghouses and fresh-cut processing facilities.

Atlanta-based Royal Food Service Co. has been awarded a maximum $465 million contract to supply for fresh fruits and vegetables to Georgia military and school customers.

How do companies with no warehouse or logistic capabilities win a federal contract to supply produce boxes to food banks?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved $1.2 billion in contracts for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, including $461 million for produce purchases. 

Being the go-between guy isn’t always sexy.

Hopes were running high among fresh produce foodservice distributors, food banks and other nonprofit groups that may benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families food box program. 

Help is on the way.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and the United Fresh Produce Association will partner on an April 23 web seminar discussing details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Purchase and Distribution Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a web seminar on April 21 to explain details of its “Buy Fresh” program funded through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross has penned a thank-you letter for retailers and food distributors across the country.

With $2.7 billion targeted to the fruit and vegetable industry, the $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program was unveiled by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on April 17.

Constant communication with employees and strong buyer-seller relationships have helped produce operators manage the choppy waters since the COVID-19 crisis began.

Want to catch up on how coronavirus is affecting the produce industry beyond your commodities or your segment of the business? We'll get you up to speed in 15 minutes.