Latest News From Industry

“We are honored to be recognized by the Boys & Girls Club of Mid Central Coast. The Boys & Girls Club has always welcomed us to share our love and knowledge of produce with its members.

The USDA today announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture now provides state estimates of fresh fruit and vegetable exports.

The Packer asked industry leaders for their perspective on the United Fresh Produce Association/Produce Marketing Association news that they will merge by the beginning of 2022.

Don't miss anything from these Santa Maria California produce companies.

Strawberries are one of the many delicious fruits that come from California (among other places.) Sink your teeth into these California strawberry business updates.

The 2020 value of U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports declined slightly, a new U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis shows.

With fruit from Oxnard, Santa Maria and Salinas-Watsonville, Naturipe Farms expects promotable supplies starting in early April and continuing through the summer.

California strawberries grown hydroponically on tabletops and sold under the Ocean Spray brand are a new market opportunity for The Oppenheimer Group.

The Packer is seeking input from California Salinas Valley produce growers/shippers/marketers.

While change is inevitable, print marketing remains the most trusted media vehicle in the industry* and is unmatched in the ways it captivates, comforts, and converts.

February organic pear and apple sales verified that the pandemic year has been incredibly positive for both categories.

With the help of the H-2A program, Santa Maria growers expect tight but manageable labor availability for 2021.

In a recently completed survey by the IMPACT Center at Washington State University. Washington State farm family’s direct compliance outlays to manage COVID-10 were roughly $2,532 per month.

USDA seeks nominations of qualified individuals for four open seats on the NOSB.

“Okay, Boomer.” “Millennials ruined brunch!” “Zoomers won’t do anything they can’t put on TikTok.” We’re all familiar with the traditional generational complaints and stereotypes.

California’s Santa Maria shippers say the pandemic’s effect on marketing has been profound, but foodservice demand is slowly recovering.

StixFresh USA, Inc., has rebranded to Ryp Labs, Inc.

The USDA announced that SCC International Inc. satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $7,504 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

The USDA announced that Los Fuertes Produce LLC, satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $37,322 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

The Mushroom Council® will remind diners that researchers consider mushrooms “one of the most sustainably produced foods in the United States.” 

Produce operators have provided the U.S. Department of Agriculture with 30 ways the agency can improve the next food box program.

Bard Valley Natural Delights announces the launch of its newly designed website to effectively communicate to a more diverse demographic.

Seen on Social for March 29-April 2: Check out our weekly installment of what's hot from the produce industry on these major social media platforms.

Read how shippers say retail sales of Santa Maria produce can be more effective.

Details of President Biden’s $2 trillion American Jobs Plan are beginning to surface, even as produce advocates stress industry priorities in any infrastructure legislation.

California was the big driver of avocados sales early this year, according to Hass Avocado Board statistics.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted $8,421,500 worth of alleged methamphetamine in a commercial shipment of fresh produce arriving from Mexico.

(UPDATED, April 1) The boards of directors of the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association have reached an agreement in principle to combine the groups by the first of the year.

Palm Desert, Calif.-based Sun World International LLC has announced an agreement to be acquired by Bridgepoint, an international private equity group.

2021 Texas International Produce Association's Viva Fresh is in the books. In case you missed the event here are some photos.

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, Frieda’s looks forward to celebrating its 59th Anniversary with the release of a new children’s book titled, “Try It! How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Imperial Frozen Foods Op Co LLC (Imperial), Wake Forest, N.C., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

AeroFarms and Hortifrut S.A. have announced a multi-year partnership to jointly research and develop blueberry and caneberry production in fully-controlled indoor environments and vertical farms.

With core items that include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and cilantro, Santa Maria, Calif.-based Gold Coast Packing Co. Inc. also has significantly grown its Brussels sprouts program in recent years.

While spring is the prime time for California strawberries, two new varieties from the Public Strawberry Breeding Program at the UC Davis, will provide big, flavorful strawberries throughout fall and winter.

In a repeat of a successful promotion in 2020, the California Strawberry Commission is investing in generic promotions in the Ibotta app to reward consumers for purchasing fresh strawberries

Social media and digital outlets have become more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, California strawberry marketers say.

Berry marketer Wish Farms has opened the doors to its new headquarters in Plant City, Fla. 

Growing America’s Farmers (GAF) is the brainchild of Walt Dasher, a third generation southeast Georgia farmer specializing in sweet onions.

Fresh Week is the CPMA’s first virtual convention and expo, and the organization provided these frequently asked questions on the event’s website to help attendees navigate the new format.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Week features a New Product Showcase for 2021.

At the February 18 Council virtual meeting, the Mushroom Council elected new officers for 2021.

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

The Texas International Association (TIPA) announced a new partnership with the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (Food Bank RGV) at last week’s Viva Fresh Expo’s keynote luncheon.

Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored 37 major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce.

Bard Valley Date Growers and Houston-based Brighter Bites partnered this month on an H-E-B promotion that highlighted the Natural Delights and Brighter Bites brands and included a donation to Brighter Bites.

Superfresh Growers hosted the first Superfresh Vaccine Clinic on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

Catch up quick on the news of the week with this latest episode of Packer Insight. Watch for the recap, and then get more details on each of the following topics at the links below.

40% of customers purchased avocados within the past 12 months. That is just one insight from The Packer's exclusive Fresh Trends data and research for 2021 avocado purchases.