Latest News From Industry

West Coast Produce Expo brings industry together
West Coast Produce Expo brings industry together

Getting back together in person was more than satisfying for attendees of The Packer’s West Coast Produce Expo.

Chelan Fresh looks for peak in July
Chelan Fresh looks for peak in July

Chelan Fresh expects to peak on rainier cherries July 1, with dark sweet cherries peaking around July 14.

Greta Thunberg Aims to Change How Food Is Produced
Greta Thunberg Aims to Change How Food Is Produced

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has set her sights on changing how the world produces and consumes food in order to counteract a trio of threats: carbon emissions, disease outbreaks and animal suffering.  

Washington growers wait for regulatory relief
Washington growers wait for regulatory relief

With a high percentage of farmworkers vaccinated, Washington state agricultural groups are waiting on the state to update its costly COVID-19-related housing regulations.

FFA Taps New CEO with Deep FFA Roots, Passion for Career and Technical Education
FFA Taps New CEO with Deep FFA Roots, Passion for Career and Technical Education

The National FFA Organization announces it has named Scott Stump as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective Monday, June 21. Stump also takes the leadership role as CEO of the National FFA Foundation.

Missouri Farmer Tells Kamala Harris Rural Broadband Struggles Could Throttle Biden’s Climate Goals
Missouri Farmer Tells Kamala Harris Rural Broadband Struggles Could Throttle Biden’s Climate Goals

A White House listening session with vice president Kamala Harris focused on broadband connectivity. Missouri farmer Meagan Kaiser was one of six participants and spoke to the struggle for farmers and rural businesses.

New Jersey growers share crop, market updates to festive crowd
New Jersey growers share crop, market updates to festive crowd

The flip side to crazy freight rates is that Northeast customers may look more to Jersey Fresh produce this summer and fall rather than pay for a truck to come from the West, said New Jersey produce professionals.

Florida avocados face challenges with hot real estate market, disease pressure
Florida avocados face challenges with hot real estate market, disease pressure

Florida avocado growers have seen supply waiver with hot demand for South Florida real estate and from disease pressure.

Suppliers share optimism about Northwest cherries
Suppliers share optimism about Northwest cherries

In a survey of Northwest cherry shippers, The Packer asked suppliers for their reasons for optimism for the 2021 Northwest cherry season.

Calling all Michigan produce suppliers...
Calling all Michigan produce suppliers...

The Packer is seeking input from Michigan produce suppliers about their outlook for the 2021 season.

D’Arrigo New York buys another facility in South Bronx
D’Arrigo New York buys another facility in South Bronx

Bronx, N.Y.-based D’Arrigo New York acquired more facilities in South Bronx, part of its steady, incremental improvements for the last 73 years.

What Does Food and Fuel Demand Look Like Post-COVID?
What Does Food and Fuel Demand Look Like Post-COVID?

Michael Swanson says it’ll take fleet turnover to bring great change to gasoline consumption, and he says two factors will drive that adoption—federal policy and battery technologies.

How Four Seasons expansion relates to higher wages for employees
How Four Seasons expansion relates to higher wages for employees

The Four Seasons Family of Cos., Ephrata, Pa., has experienced consistent double-digit growth the past several years, and many of those customer partnerships are broadening.  

Ag groups decry Gov. Inslee reopening state for all vaccinated employees except farmworkers
Ag groups decry Gov. Inslee reopening state for all vaccinated employees except farmworkers

Washington state’s leading agricultural groups say Gov. Inslee has a double standard for farmers and their vaccinated workers.

PBH Hosts First-Ever Have A Plant Media Meet-Up
PBH Hosts First-Ever Have A Plant Media Meet-Up

Lights, camera, action! On May 20, the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) hosted its first-ever Have A Plant® Media Meet Up with top-tier journalists and media professionals.

Southeast Produce Council awards 53 scholarships to these students
Southeast Produce Council awards 53 scholarships to these students

The Southeast Produce Council gave 53 scholarships for a total of $53,000 in 2021.

Guatemalan Produce Trade Association announces member videos
Guatemalan Produce Trade Association announces member videos

The Guatemalan Produce Trade Association’s website now showcases importer and member videos for retailers and foodservice to meet the importers and industry service providers.

Packer Insight — West Coast Produce Expo, cherries, foodservice and more
Packer Insight — West Coast Produce Expo, cherries, foodservice and more

The Packer's editors cover key topics of the week, from cherry season expectations to the West Coast Produce Expo to foodservice trends to the pallet shortage, in this episode of Packer Insight.

North Pacific Canners and Packers Inc., d/b/a NORPAC Foods Inc. satisfies terms of consent decision
North Pacific Canners and Packers Inc., d/b/a NORPAC Foods Inc. satisfies terms of consent decision

In an amended complaint filed Jan. 19, the USDA alleged that North Pacific Canners and Packers Inc. Salem, Ore., failed to make full payment promptly to sellers of multiple lots of produce.

USDA cites Kendall Frozen Fruits Inc. in California for PACA violations
USDA cites Kendall Frozen Fruits Inc. in California for PACA violations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Kendall Frozen Fruits Inc. (KFF), Newport Beach, Calif., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA-office
Debt Relief for U.S. Minority Farmers Coming in June - USDA

The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Friday it will start erasing an estimated $4 billion dollars in debt to minority farmers in June, as it seeks to address racial discrimination.

New Cold Storage Warehouse to be Built in Sturbridge MA by RLS Warehouse Partner
New Cold Storage Warehouse to be Built in Sturbridge MA by RLS Warehouse Partner

RLS Logistics announced their new warehouse partner, RLS Complete, is set to open Q1 of 2022 in Sturbridge, MA. Tippmann Innovation (Ti) will be leading the cold storage warehouse construction.

Move Over Mangos, Watermelons & Pineapples… Frieda's touts topicals
Move Over Mangos, Watermelons & Pineapples… Frieda's touts topicals

With Memorial Day just around the corner and social restrictions opening up, shoppers are getting ready to relax and reunite.

USDA extends the comment period on supply chains
USDA extends the comment period on supply chains

The USDA is providing an additional 30 days for public comments on the notice for Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products.

2021 West Coast Produce Expo
2021 West Coast Produce Expo

Take a glimps at photos from the 2021 West Coast Produce Expo.

USApple Board Green-Lights In-Person Annual Outlook Conference
USApple Board Green-Lights In-Person Annual Outlook Conference

The U.S. Apple Association Board of Directors this week gave an enthusiastic go-ahead to hold the organization’s annual conference in-person this summer.

When Your Plate Is Too Full: Tips to Delegate and Manage the Workload
When Your Plate Is Too Full: Tips to Delegate and Manage the Workload

Do you ever feel overwhelmed, overloaded, scattered? Generally, pandemic or not, leaders feel at least a little bit this way all the time, explains leadership coach Marlene Eick. She says the question is, is this ok?

SEPC in full support of PMA and United Fresh union
SEPC in full support of PMA and United Fresh union

Southeast Produce Council’s Executive Committee convened in early May and expressed full support of the recent merger between PMA and United Fresh, who will consolidate to create a new global trade association.

'Acute' pallet shortages putting fresh produce supply at risk
'Acute' pallet shortages putting fresh produce supply at risk

Severe pallet shortages are inflicting a widespread effect on the produce industry — including the availability of produce to consumers.

These companies won contracts for USDA's TEFAP produce boxes
These companies won contracts for USDA's TEFAP produce boxes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has purchased fresh produce for distribution via food boxes through the Emergency Food Assistance Program and other domestic food assistant programs.

NY Apple Association gears up marketing plans, staff
NY Apple Association gears up marketing plans, staff

The Fishers-based New York Apple Association is adding to its retail and foodservice team as it ramps up retail and foodservice promotional plans for this coming fall harvest.

Divine Flavor Starts 15th Sonoran Table Grape Season
Divine Flavor Starts 15th Sonoran Table Grape Season

As we enter the 3rd week of May, Divine Flavor starts receiving its first shipments of grapes- officially kicking off of their Sonoran grape program for 2021.

Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association Launches Flavor of Sunshine Campaign for 2021
Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association Launches Flavor of Sunshine Campaign for 2021

The Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association has announced the launch of its Flavor of Sunshine campaign to support the 2021 Eastern Cantaloupe season.

Greenhouse-grown flavor front and center in new e-magazine from Pure Flavor
Greenhouse-grown flavor front and center in new e-magazine from Pure Flavor

With spring firmly settling in with longer, warmer days on the horizon, Leamington, Ontario-based greenhouse vegetable grower Pure Flavor® has released the second edition of its successful Live Deliciously eMagazine.

Tell them your New York apple marketing ideas
Tell them your New York apple marketing ideas

Letters of Interest are due June 17 from people who have ideas on how to make the New York apple industry more competitive.

Side Delights share insights on shopper demand to support local
Side Delights share insights on shopper demand to support local

Side Delights shares farming insights from their Network of family-owned farms and why shoppers prefer locally grown, family-farmed food

Podcast — Discussing the pallet issue with United Fresh's John Hollay
Podcast — Discussing the pallet issue with United Fresh's John Hollay

Hollay discusses the cost and availability issues around pallets due to the lumber shortage, and he recaps the conversations United has been having with companies and with government to try to help ease the situation.

Clear Communication
Path to effective communication difficult but rewarding

In view of ever-changing disease prevention guidance, effective communication during the COVID-19 pandemic was needed more than ever before.

Got To Be NC promotes North Carolina produce
Got To Be NC promotes North Carolina produce

Touching more than 30 commodities, the Got To Be NC initiative promotes North Carolina-grown fresh produce and other farm goods to buyers around the corner and across the ocean.

California onion suppliers, tell us about your crop
California onion suppliers, tell us about your crop

The Packer wants to hear California onion suppliers' insights and perspectives on this year’s crop.

Florida avocado suppliers, The Packer wants to hear from you
Florida avocado suppliers, The Packer wants to hear from you

The Packer is seeking input from growers, shippers and marketers of Florida avocados to help prepare coverage for its May 31 Florida avocado section.

California Fresh Fruit Association reacts to Governor Newsom’s budget
California Fresh Fruit Association reacts to Governor Newsom’s budget

The California Fresh Fruit Association reacted to Governor Gavin Newsom’s “$100 Billion California Comeback Plan”, which will allocate a portion of funding to support the food and agricultural industry.

USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Texas produce business
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Texas produce business

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on May 13 that 2JM Produce LLC satisfied a $3,563 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Florida produce business
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Florida produce business

The USDA announced that Suncrest Produce Solutions satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $26,650 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

USDA restricts PACA violators in Illinois and New Jersey from operating in the produce industry
USDA restricts PACA violators in Illinois and New Jersey from operating in the produce industry

The USDA has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under PACA.

First Sonora grapes trickle north, marketers prepare to manage transition
First Sonora grapes trickle north, marketers prepare to manage transition

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” and a 20-million box season begins with box one.

Agricultural groups call on Gov. Inslee to reopen farms, lift emergency farmworker restrictions
Agricultural groups call on Gov. Inslee to reopen farms, lift emergency farmworker restrictions

Washington state’s leading agricultural groups are appealing to Gov. Inslee to repeal recently renewed Covid-19 emergency rules for farm workers using temporary housing.

Revol Greens doubles production capacity to meet organic demand
Revol Greens doubles production capacity to meet organic demand

Owatonna, Minn.-based Revol Greens is expanding its production capacity after selling out of its new organic spring mix, green and red duo and romaine crunch line, launched in the first quarter of 2021.

LeadNY opens applications for leaders in food, agricultural sectors
LeadNY opens applications for leaders in food, agricultural sectors

A New York leadership development program is accepting applications for its next class of leaders in the food, agriculture and natural resources sectors of the Northeast.

Owyhee Produce sees stable volume
Owyhee Produce sees stable volume

With new crop supplies from California, Arizona and New Mexico supply in May, Owyhee Produce looks to have stable volume compared with a year ago.