Latest News From Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making another $1.5 billion available for distributing fresh produce, dairy and meat products through a fifth round of the Farmers to Family Food Box Program.

United Fresh Produce Association is launching its 117th Congress Meet and Greet series for members to virtually meet new legislators and discuss issues.

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) has achieved its inaugural fundraising goal of $2 million for 2020. 

A coalition of agricultural and business employers has filed a lawsuit challenging the COVID-19 related emergency temporary standards recently approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.

United Fresh Produce Association will kick start the new year with unique programming beginning Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

It’s official: the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans have yet again confirmed the importance of eating more vegetables such as potatoes that provide potassium and vitamin C.

Mushrooms, classified as a vegetable in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, are a nutrient-dense food that is low in calories and sodium, have no fat and provide vitamins, minerals and other components.

The Produce Marketing Association today welcomed the publication of the new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation released this statement on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-25.

Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association, released the following statement on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-25.

The federal government has released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-25 — dubbed Make Every Bite Count.

Episode 29 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Tom Stenzel, CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association, about the latest COVID-19 relief bill and the programs included that benefit the industry.

Bringing some hope for immigration reform but angst over the potential for increased regulations, Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump heralds a new era for produce industry priorities in the next four years.

While farm labor and immigration issues always rank near the top of industry concerns, the challenges to the agricultural employers have seldom been greater than in 2020.

The Trump administration wasn’t successful in getting seasonal protections for U.S. growers in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Relief, if not all-out recovery, came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s COVID-19 assistance programs, adjusted as needed.

At first, COVID-19 canceled or rescheduled meetings, trade shows and conferences. Then, the live, online and recorded events began. Some organizations even offered hybrid events.

The status of the 2021 H-2A program wage rates is up in the air again.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected food safety plans, delaying the release of the Food and Drug Administration’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety plan and pulling inspectors from many on-site visits.

When it comes to why the demand for packaging increased so much in 2020, there are a number of plausible reasons.

The U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru on Dec. 23 reported widespread protests of agricultural workers in multiple regions of the Andean country.

It's like a holiday gift your mom gets (somewhat) right: United Fresh's Tom Stenzel explains the key wins for the produce industry in the December COVID-19 relief package — and some of the losses.

Frontline essential food and agricultural workers should be a high priority population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Grocery stores got busier than ever as stay-at-home orders in many states forced restaurants to close, and many people took advantage of online grocery services to avoid the crowds.

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.

The USDA said Dec. 22 that Fernando McIntyre, doing business as Morning Star Produce, satisfied an $8,640 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act involving unpaid produce transactions.

Might as well be blunt about it: Foodservice business tanked since the pandemic gripped the nation.

More funding for food production and distribution are among the priorities in the third COVID-19 relief package, agreed upon by U.S. Congressional leaders and the White House less than a week before Christmas.

The United Fresh Produce Association is offering a virtual workshop on strategies from a changing work environment.

Grocery shopping patterns shifted significantly during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Foot traffic, basket size and trip frequency were among the metrics that saw remarkable changes.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility had a seizure of $37,000,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine discovered in a commercial shipment of fresh tomatoes.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – COVID-19 can’t stop Stemilt and Hansen Fruit from spreading cheer this holiday season.

The Packer's editors recap the big topics of the week, from the extension of the comment period on the FDA's food traceability rule and the 2021 outlook to redder tomatoes and better citrus merchandising.

The first-ever digital Potato Expo is on tap for Jan. 5-7 and the event has plenty to offer the industry, National Potato Council leaders say.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on RRD Produce Co., Los Angeles, Calif., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has determined that Frank Cione is not responsibly connected to Lurie Brothers LLC, Chicago, Ill.

The COVID-19 pandemic is yesterday’s news. Unfortunately, it also is the reality today and for many tomorrows, according to panelists at the Dec. 16 Produce Marketing Association’s Virtual Town Hall.

One reality of the COVID-19 pandemic is that consumers and retailers have demanded more plastic packaging, and that has caused some adjustments on the part of suppliers.

Cosmic Crisp apples star in a recent episode of “Food Finds” on CNN Travel’s Food and Drink channel.

New York-based Bowery Farming is developing plans with the state of Pennsylvania to build an industrial site in Bethlehem, Pa., into one of its vertical farms for year-round greens.

Blueberry growers have created a coalition to to seek relief from rising imports.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation President and CEO, Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak is representing North America during the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables launch event on Tuesday, December 15.

The expensive commitment to automate farm labor is gaining momentum with the COVID-19 pandemic, Phil Martin says.

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Post-Election 2020 - Discussion of Political and Legislative Issues.

On, off and on again.

NEW YORK — More than nine months in, the unpredictability of this pandemic-ridden market has become a smidge more predictable, according to speakers at the virtual New York Produce Show and Conference.

Produce Marketing Association  has announced that they will cap off this year’s Virtual Town Hall Series with a candid conversation featuring Bruce Taylor of Taylor Farms and John Anderson of The Oppenheimer Group.

The United Fresh Produce Association’s sixth annual BrandStorm event will take place online in 2021.

NEW YORK — The virtual New York Produce Show and Conference kicked off with a message from New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball, who addressed the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 the PACA.