The Packer Staff

Latest Stories
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Social Responsibility
Raley’s Food For Families Marks 40 Years of Hunger Relief
The grocer’s new grant-funding round supports critical infrastructure needs at food banks and partner agencies throughout California and Nevada.
January 13, 2026 03:53 PM
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The Packer Staff
Raspberry canes under a hoop house
Produce Crops
Sweet Karoline Blackberries Set to Shine in 2026 Season
To support long-term growth, Berry Fresh has expanded Sweet Karoline acreage into Oregon, extending the season and enhancing national availability.
January 13, 2026 10:47 AM
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The Packer Staff
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Retail
Frieda’s Encourages Retailers to Reset Their Relationship with Trends
Alex Jackson, vice president of sales and marketing for Frieda’s Branded Produce, shares a framework for turning trend overload into strategic clarity.
January 12, 2026 03:57 PM
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The Packer Staff
Lidl US
Industry
NAD Recommends Lidl Modify or Discontinue Certain Price Comparison Claims
The National Advertising Division has recommended that Lidl US modify or discontinue its “exact same basket” and percentage-based price comparison claims following a challenge by Ahold Delhaize USA regarding the accuracy of those savings assertions.
January 12, 2026 04:09 PM
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The Packer Staff
A blonde woman wearing a green zipper sweatshirt and blue jeans walking through an established avocado grove while looking up at the trees
People
Rachael Laenen Elected Chair of the California Avocado Commission
She will be the first woman to chair the commission, which will support the CA Grown program’s initiative promoting the role of women in agriculture.
January 12, 2026 03:08 PM
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The Packer Staff
An older man with light brown eyes and silvering hair wearing half-rimmed glasses and a blue-checked suit coat over light blue collared shirts
People
Gordon Robertson Joins Fresh Inset as General Manager
The industry veteran will oversee all aspects of the company’s Vidre+ North American operations.
January 12, 2026 03:23 PM
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The Packer Staff
A combined image showing three business casual headshots of younger adults. From left to right: A young white woman with blue eyes and long red-brown hair wearing a dark blue checked suit coat identified as Joelle Orem; a young white man with blue eyes and sandy brown hair wearing a black houndstooth collared shirt identified as James Drewicke; and a younger middle-aged white man with brown eyes and tightly curled brown hair wearing a black t-shirt identified as Matheus Spinelli. The text above the photos reads "Ten Acre Marketing" with a stained glass-style leaf logo.
People
Ten Acre Marketing Welcomes Three New Hires
Joelle Orem and James Drewicke join as account coordinators, and Matheus Spinelli joins as creative studio manager.
January 09, 2026 10:35 AM
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The Packer Staff
A combined pair of headshots. On the left is a younger middle-aged Black man with dark brown eyes, a sparse beard and mustache, and close-cropped black hair wearing a dark teal sweater over a blue checked collared shirt. On the right is a younger middle-aged white man with blue eyes, a sparse beard and mustache, and short redish-brown hair wearing a gray suit coat over a light gray collared shirt. Overlaid over the photos at the bottom middle is the InteliCool and Inteligistics word logos in teal.
Industry
Inteligistcs Highlights the Impact of InteliCool Updates
Updates to InteliCool include using AI and machine learning to passively track and control temperatures in tunnels, tubes or MAC systems with efficiency gains of up to 33%.
January 08, 2026 04:08 PM
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The Packer Staff
A combined image showing nine photos of eight men and one woman in two rows. Above the photos is text reading Texas Produce Hall of Fame.
People
Texas Produce Hall of Fame Inductees for 2026 Released
The Texas International Produce Association has announced this year’s winners and plans to celebrate them during a Jan. 19 event.
January 08, 2026 11:12 AM
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The Packer Staff
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People
Jim Perkins Named President and CEO of The Save Mart Companies
The 40-year retail veteran assumes the role following the retirement of Shane Sampson, who has led the company as CEO since 2022.
January 08, 2026 09:47 AM
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The Packer Staff
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