Latest News From Industry

Future Co-CEOs Cathy Burns of Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Tom Stenzel of United Fresh have named the Executive Committee that will serve as officers for the new association.

Gain firsthand knowledge from produce-industry experts discussions about plastic packaging recycling solutions at this free in-depth packaging webinar Aug 24 at 1 pm PDT.

Produce shippers and packaging suppliers have faced shortages and higher prices of some packaging materials.

Ted Matthews joins AgriTalk’s Chip Flory to discuss managing farm stress, and how to get your head right ahead of the harvest season.

Western Growers has bolstered its workforce development efforts with the launch of five initiatives aimed at transitioning the agriculture workforce to master rapidly developing agricultural technology.

Shuman Farms has RealSweet high quality, premium sweet onions from Peru on hand and are currently making the transition from Vidalia to Peru.

Seen on Social: These are a few posts on social media from our produce industry that caught our attention this week.

United Fresh Produce Association announced the members of the 2021-2022 United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program Leadership Class 26.

President Joe Biden's tax plan has both good and bad news for farmers, says Paul Neiffer, a CPA and principal with CLA and author of the “Farm CPA” blog.

The future of packaging is one of the biggest issues confronting the produce industry, and a keynote speaker at Sustainable Produce Summit will speak about his company’s vision for the role of reusable packaging.

USDA announced updates to CFAP 2, with the biggest revisions occurring for contract producers of livestock and specialty crops. The deadline is now October 12 to sign up or make modifications to existing applications.

Bagged avocados are finding their way into the grocery baskets of U.S. avocado shoppers as bags now make up more than a quarter of all avocado purchases.

Salinas, Calif.-based Taylor Farms has announced it has entered the greenhouse growing market with an investment in Pure Green Farms.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced several Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act actions on Aug. 24.

Dr. Bechara Choucair, White House vaccination coordinator, joins AgriTalk’s Chip Flory to discuss Full FDA approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 years old and older.

The USDA is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities.

Revealing wage trends during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Fresh Produce Association has published the sixth edition of its Produce Industry Compensation & Benefits Report.

The USDA announced plans to purchase approximately $400 million in produce, beef, pork, poultry, fish, and dairy products for distribution to outlets within The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Hazel Technologies, Inc. announces the launch of its first virtual Avocado Quality Summit.

The Québec Produce Marketing Association, based in Montreal, will receive a $750,000 grant from André Lamontagne, minister of agriculture, fisheries and food.

CHICAGO — Washington apple grower Sean Gilbert is The Packer’s 2021 Apple Man of the Year.

Industry leaders responding to a survey from The Packer mentioned education, consumer insights and more data on life cycle analysis.

Morgan Falcon, marketing for Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms, showcased the company’s Pink-a-Boo Pineberries at The Packer’s GOPEX Golf event in August.

Partnership for a Healthier America on Aug. 19 announced that Kwik Trip has raised $150,000 during its 2021 coin canister campaign to support PHA’s national food equity initiatives.

Federal officials announced this week mandatory water cuts to the Colorado River, marking the first federal water cuts, and it's the first-ever water shortage for a river that serves 40 million people in the West.

The USDA announced today an investment of $69 million to address critical food and nutrition security needs of low-income communities enduring the pandemic.

Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises has acquired Irvington, N.Y.-based BrightFarms, the indoor farming company and provider of locally grown packaged salads in several states.

A big increase in benefits is on the way for Americans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.5% in July on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.9% in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. 

Atlanta-based Giro Pack Inc., a part of Giro GH, has recently opened a warehouse in Fresno, Calif., to expand services and supply for existing and future partners in the region.

Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association, has issued an update on COVID-19-related precautions as plans continue for an in-person Fresh Summit in New Orleans, set for Oct. 28-30.

The White House said the USDA is making up to $500 million available to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance.

While scrolling produce industry posts on social media this week, we found weirdly-shaped squash, different brains, bubble gum, carrot bacon — and news about at least one thing that’s getting more affordable. Oh my!

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce Ltd. and Morehead, Ky.-based AppHarvest plan to form FarmCo, a joint venture to develop a portfolio of controlled environment agriculture facilities.

PNC Riverarch Capital (“PNC Riverarch”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired Fresh Direct Produce from HKW.

Bland Farms LLC., Battleboro Produce, Boyette Brothers Produce LLC., and Sandyland Produce have announced a new partnership and sales company, Sand Candy Produce LLC. 

The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has teamed up with Kroger Health to bring together two nutrient-rich foods – berries and eggs – for better health and happiness this fall.

For produce packaging suppliers and shippers, inflation is a fact of life in 2021.

Buyers from across the US attended Global Organic Produce Expo Aug 5-6 at the TPC Sawgrass Golf Course in Ponte Verde, Flor. Take a look at what some of them are saying about this unique industry event. 

Hazel Technologies, announced partnership with Miami, FL-based online tropical and exotic fruit store, Tropical Fruit Box.

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst, Northeast editor Amy Sowder and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss some of the big topics of the week, from the new infrastructure bill to buy local campaigns to retail strategy.

As extreme heat and fires plague much of the West, wildland firefighters go from fire to fire with little end in sight.

Mona, Utah-based Houweling US Holdings, Inc. is launching the Longvine Growing Co as the company rebrands and resets for the next evolution of company growth. 

iUNU (“you knew”) is an agricultural machine vision company headquartered in Seattle, with satellite offices in California, Florida, and Toronto as well.

The COVID-19 pandemic depressed foodservice sales and employment for much of 2020.

A national coalition representing thousands of Western farmers, ranchers, water providers, businesses and communities stressed the importance of Senate passage of bipartisan Infrastructure legislation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program is missed by fresh produce distributors everywhere, including in Maryland and Virginia.

Gabe Bernal of Miami-based Seasons Farm Fresh said the biggest adjustment the company has made from last year to this year is a shift from wholesalers to retailers.

In 2021, you have the choice to join #FJFieldDays in person or online. Join us at a location near you or login online to find educational content, industry insights and more.

At its newest expansion, Albion, N.Y.-based Intergrow Greenhouses has opened a 10-acre greenhouse, expected to produce more than 3 million pounds of fresh produce a year to serve the entire Eastern Seaboard.