Latest News From Industry

Paul Neiffer says one of the biggest benefits in the House’s proposed plan is farmers won’t be hit with increased taxes at death, as the transfer tax is no longer included and the full step-up in basis remains.

These are the social media posts from the produce industry that caught our attention this week.

Minnesota’s leisure and hospitality sector is coming back from pre-pandemic lows, but the restaurant trade is far from all the way back.

When it comes to fruit and vegetable consumption indicators, Minnesota is decidedly above average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

St. Paul, Minn.-based Bix Produce Co. has upped its investment in efficiency tools to reduce its labor needs and increase customer satisfaction.

St. Paul, Minn.-based Co-op Partners Warehouse is seeing increased interest in promotional programs and is adjusting to accommodate that demand, said Tom Rodmyre, warehouse director.

CMI Orchards is partnering with the firm’s retail customers in new ways this year with the customized digital and omnichannel vehicles now available.

DMA Solutions, a full-service marketing agency serving the fresh food and floral industry, reveals the upcoming topics and dates for its informative webinar series, Marketing Matters.

The H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program more than doubled in size in less than ten years, and fruit, vegetable and nut growers were a big reason for the growth.

Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space, reports a reversal in consumer comfort with reopening activities as concern over the Delta variant leaps. 

The GAO’s new report on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pandemic-era Food Box Program said the agency lacks data to accurately measure how well the program succeeded in meeting all of its goals.

To equip the industry for success, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is launching a Love One Today page on their website.

The more innovative your company is, the more your sales will improve, according to a study revealed at the Southeast Produce Council’s Sept. 9-11 Southern Innovations show in Savannah, Ga.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits® (OSF), developer and grower behind the Arctic® apple varieties, recently launched a sampling event in the San Francisco Bay area with huge success.

Many U.S. apple businesses won’t qualify for critical COVID-relief assistance that was announced today by the Agriculture Department, said the U.S. Apple Association.

Santiago, Chile-based Hortifrut reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization for the year ending June 2021 totaled $205.05 million.

Ontario, Calif.-based GS Foods Group Inc., a food distributor owned by affiliates of Highview Capital LLC and A&M Capital Partners, has acquired C&C Produce, a produce distributor based in Kansas City, Mo.

The National Council of Agricultural Employers has announced the council’s ongoing collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control has resulted in another new opportunity to protect farmworkers from COVID-19.

It’s been a few months since the Boston Market Terminal closed for good, scattering companies to nearby warehouses, the neighboring New England Produce Center or to retirement.

The USDA has announced it has allocated $650 million for the new Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant program to support growers and others.

More than 100 organizations have signed a letter to Congressional leaders urging an extension of the short-term increase to WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables that expires on Sept. 30.

U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm joins AgriTalk’s Chip Flory to discuss clean energy, as outlined in the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Inflationary pressures eroded returns for Santa Paula, Calif.-based Calavo Growers Inc. for the quarter ended July 31, company officials said.

SUN VALLEY, IDAHO — The fight to get U.S. fresh potatoes into all of Mexico continues amid signs that the  Mexican potato industry is shifting tactics to deflect imports.

In response to California State Senator Melissa Hurtado being forced to pull SB 559 after the California State Assembly Appropriations Committee removed all funding provisions, California fresh produce said this:

Mona, Utah-based Longvine Growing Co. signed a strategic partnership with Beverly Hills, Calif.-based agritech firm Bluehouse Greenhouse Inc.

The USDA announced that $700 million will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with pandemic-related health and safety costs.

Farmers seem to be slightly more optimistic about current economic conditions, but concerns about inflation are growing, according to the latest Ag Economy Barometer from Purdue University and the CME Group.

Millions of Canadians had the opportunity to watch celebrity chef Roger Mooking demonstrate the versatility and goodness of California grapes.

It’s early. You haven’t had coffee. Everyone knows what needs to be done. You don’t have time. The excuses go on about why you don’t need a morning meeting for your team. But some suggest rethinking that choice.

Charismatic and humble. That describes Alex Miller who was in the national spotlight earlier this year during "American Idol." He'll take part in the #FarmON benefit concert Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Central.

In a world where job opportunities are endless, take the necessary steps to develop areas of work-life balance within your teams.

Organics Unlimited, San Diego-based grower and distributor of organic tropical fruit, will celebrate its 16th annual GROW Month starting on September 1, 2021. 

Following the recent refresh of one of its premium apple brands - JAZZ - T&G Global has launched the brand’s first global marketing campaign.

G&R Farms partnered with thirteen regional and national retail operators throughout the United States to raise nearly $90,000 in scholarship and grant funds for FFA students.

In response to passage of AB 616 by the California State Legislature Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement:

Titan Farms and Harris Teeter come together in their seventh year to donate peaches to Second Harvest Food Banks in Raleigh and Charlotte (NC).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that pecan producers voted to continue their marketing order program.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that Brian Klein is not responsibly connected to Kendall Frozen Fruits Inc. (KFF), operating out of Newport Beach, Calif.

Equitable Food Initiative is celebrating National Food Safety Education Month by encouraging growers and agricultural associations to share their commitment to food safety.

Hurricane Ida, and possible aid to producers, was a big topic of the Farm Journal Farm Country Update with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday. Vilsack highlighted when additional aid may be on the way. 

U.S. Secretary spoke on the impacts of climate change in the agricultural industry, as well as prevention plans set forth by the Biden Administration, during Thursday's Farm Journal Farm Country Update.

Net cash farm income, which tracks producers’ cash flow, is forecast by USDA at $134.7B for 2021. That number is up $6.4B from February’s forecast and would be an increase of 21.5% from 2020's $110.9B.

SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - Frank Muir is retiring from the Idaho Potato Commission with no regrets.

Wendy McManus, leadership coach of Connect 2 Potential, is continuing her relationship with the Center for Growing Talent by PMA by presenting two sessions at the upcoming Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference.

Cristian Barcan: “Feeding the world more sustainably is about continuous improvement. Every farm has a unique sustainability journey that has defined their success as a contributor to the food supply chain thus far”

Produce for Kids and Stop & Shop are giving families the tools they need to navigate the back-to-school rush through digital resources, an E-commerce site and resources in the produce department.

These are the produce posts that caught our attention on social media this week.

All of California's national forests are now closed to the public due to raging wildfires. Wildfire threats and issues continue to grow as more than 6,800 wildfires have already burned 1.7 million acres in the state.

Eco Farms and Oppy are working on some fresh new ideas, particularly small compostable packs that have become more popular as sustainability continues to be an important value for the company.