Latest News From Industry

The WIC program, which provides supplemental benefits to mothers, infants and children battling food insecurity, is at risk of funding being slashed as part of the arguments on federal spending.

Philadelphia-based Salix Fruits said its newest office in Singapore will help the company grow its presence in Asia.

Nomination for six open seats open through Feb. 29. The seats include foreign producers, importers, first handlers and domestic producers.

The company said the new inline hot needle micropreforating and in-register macropreforating capabilities offer more customizable solutions for clients.

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended Oct. 31 that reflected improved lemon pricing compared with a year ago.

Counties and municipalities can apply for grant funds to help defray prevention and population reduction activities on private and public lands.

The new study attempts to determine the value of “food-as-medicine” programs to treat diabetes by means of improved nutrition.

The Glennville, Ga.-based third-generation family farm specializing in sweet onions has launched a newly updated website aligned with its rebrand.

By signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is "taking a significant stride in protecting our kids, environment and essential pollinators."

Advancing the health of consumers, the produce and floral industries, and the planet are at the heart of 10 key 2023 impacts from the International Fresh Produce Association, the group says.

From the intense heat in the South to drought blanketing much of the U.S., weather stole headlines again in 2023. What caused such extreme conditions? One meteorologist explains the culprits of the heat and drought.

Inflation was less of a worry for U.S. farmers in December, a new survey says.

Ron Baruchi, CEO of Agmatix, outlines the key technology trends anticipated in the agricultural industry over the coming year.

The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market opened in 2011 but traces its roots back to colonial times when some of its tenants got their start at the city’s Dock Street marketplace.

When John Gates started delivering fruits, vegetables and fresh-cut products with his brother Dave, he never dreamed the weekend venture would evolve into a major wholesale distributor and fresh-cut processing company.

With California, Florida and Texas crops in full swing, January is the best time of year to promote citrus, say the Massachusetts-based companies.

A federal grand jury indicted a Mansfield, Texas, man in December for allegedly submitting false inspection reports in exchange for bribe payments.

The USDA is asking for offers from produce distributors to sell fresh apples and pears to the agency for use in school lunches and other feeding programs.

Some of the amendments include reducing membership of the Florida Citrus Administrative Committee and updating quorum requirements.

In November, all food prices were measured 2.9% higher than a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. The USDA has also provided an outlook for food prices in 2024.

The availability of livestock workers was ranked as more limited than crop workers and finding long-term help seen as more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plans to add five exemptions to how it regulates plant modifications, if those modifications could be achieved through conventional breeding.

Peter Bretting, the USDA Agriculture Research Service's national program leader for crop production and protection, shares what's new about this updated plant hardiness map.

A contentious issue for decades, the terms of the U.S. tomato trade with Mexico again hung in the balance in 2023.

Canada’s plastics ban continued to make headlines throughout 2023, as produce industry leaders urged the Canadian government to take a more collaborative approach to fruit and vegetable packaging regulations.

Take a look at the fresh produce industry stories and topics that topped The Packer's coverage during the year.

Will they or won’t they? Opposition remains as the planned transaction between the two retail grocery giants appears to be moving ahead.

More than ever, fresh produce growers needed guest workers to harvest their crops in 2023. At the same time, the escalating wage costs of the H-2A program — up nearly 20% since 2020 — have many desperate for relief.

The growers of Envy apples recently collaborated with Hallmark Channel actor and entrepreneur Andrew Walker for a holiday apple sampling experience at Longo’s in Toronto. 

The USDA has proposed the termination of the federal cranberry marketing order.

The Florida company is best known for sourcing tropical and exotic fruits and vegetables such as plantains, yellow yams, yuca, avocados and dragon fruit.

The merger expands the opportunity and scope of both companies to serve their unique customer base, while also working together with the customers the two companies share coast to coast.

The Department of Pesticide Regulation said the move is in response to outreach, public meetings and pilot projects.

A newly updated report shows that foreign investors held an interest in over 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural (farmland and forest) land at the end of 2022.

As importers argue for its preservation, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott has reiterated his request for the immediate termination of the 2019 tomato suspension agreement.

These 10 steps can help keep your employees from walking away.

As inflationary pressures wage on this holiday season, the Cincinnati-based grocer continues to promote affordable and convenient meal planning ideas.

The International Fresh Produce Association aims to help drive everyday floral sales by focusing on tools and resources for non-holiday sales at The Floral Conference – Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 27, 2024. 

Retail organic produce sales still have momentum, but inflation and an uneven economy have slowed growth.

The recent NYPS spotlighted CEA success stories during an educational panel discussion organized by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance and moderated by Tom Stenzel, the CEA Alliance’s executive director.

The Fertilizer Research Act has been introduced by three senators to require USDA to study competition and trends in the fertilizer market.

Prioritizing culture is often overlooked when it comes to employee management and retention.

Failure to meet contract obligations and failure to pay reparations caused the department to sanction the businesses and principal operators and prevent them from working in the produce industry.

The national produce distribution and supply company has focused on providing a range of customers with whole fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on potatoes and onions, said Josh Wolff, partner.

With the theme "Gratitude," the recent NYPS drew more than 5,000 players from across the fresh produce supply chain to the Javits Center, where industry professionals discussed products, promotional campaigns and more.

KT Produce, a produce distribution company based out of Lowell, Ark., has joined FreshEdge, a family of fresh food distribution companies backed by Wind Point Partners.

The grants — also available in Nebraska and Rhode Island — aim to bolster the processing, aggregation and distribution of agricultural products in the states.

Congress must act soon to increase funding for the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or risk the program will have to turn away assistance to participants before the end of next year.

In this "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast episode, Louisa Clark of Confidently There joins LeAnne Ruzzamenti of Equitable Food Initiative to talk about why open communication is the key to successful organizational culture.

Ag employers want relief from high H-2A wage rates, and they want relief now.