Latest News From Industry

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.

DMA Solutions announces the release of its annual Social Media planning and Produce Marketer’s event calendars to support marketing efforts for the produce industry in 2021.  

In a pick criticized by environmental groups but supported by produce advocates, president-elect Joe Biden has reportedly chosen former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to return to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

GDUSA’s 57th American Graphic Design Awards® announced their 2020 award recipients, and The Produce Moms® and Applewood Fresh® won in the category of packaging graphic design for their co-branded apple bags.

Los Angeles-based ProducePay, an alternative financing, data and marketplace company serving the $300 billion fresh produce market, today announced its 2020 financing totals.

While COVID continues to change the landscape of consumer behavior, including holiday traditions and family gatherings, data suggests the herb category is surging in sales during this season.

The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference has released more details on the full virtual schedule, including more than 85 hours of sessions on 15 specialty crops.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce has announced the opening of a new 185,000-square-foot facility in Laredo, Texas near its current distribution center. 

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Continuing to Create Excitement in Stores.

The planned sale of Bakersfield, Calif.-based Grimmway Farms to Teays River Investments comes less than two years after another carrot giant, Bakersfield-based Bolthouse Farms, sold to Butterfly Equity.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council is holding will be holding its annual holiday charity auction virtually this year. 

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Opening stores and growing e-commerce in 2020.

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Online Grocery and What's Ahead.

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Shifting Shopper Behaviors Present and Future.

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Walmart's Regenerative Approach and What It Means for Suppliers.

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Developing Your Produce Teams.

Catch up on what you missed at The Packer's West Coast Produce Expo. Here's the full video of Lessons from Retail - Community, Events and Fresh Produce.

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer   dropped 16 points to a reading of 167 in November, down from its all-time high set just one month ago.

Mount Laurel, N.J.-based RLS Logistics, through its affiliate RLS Partners, has unveiled plans to develop an 83,000 square-foot, temperature-controlled facility in central Massachusetts. 

Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., has been approved by the Democratic Caucus to serve as the first African American chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in the 117th Congress that will convene in January.

U.S. imports of Mexican hass avocados have contributed significantly to the U.S. economy as the fruit travels the supply chain and stimulates market activities, according to a September report by Texas A&M University.

The Border Trade Alliance today applauded a bipartisan congressional effort to extend the Donation Acceptance Program.

The United Fresh Produce Association is hosting a night of comedy for the produce industry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at the Pharr International Bridge facility intercepted alleged methamphetamine and heroin worth $2.98 million in a commercial shipment of fresh carrots arriving from Mexico.

Episode 25 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Jim Wiesemeyer, policy analyst with Pro Farmer.

Zionsville, Ind.-based Teays River Investments has agreed to purchase Bakersfield, Calif.-based Grimmway Farms.

This is part two of a two-part report on takeaways from the second and third days of BrandStorm 2021.

The fight continues over wage rates in the Department of Labor’s H-2A agricultural guest worker program.

United Apple Sales, Lyndonville, N.Y., is marking the year 2020 with a celebration of 115 years in the agriculture business.

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., seeking the House Committee on Agriculture chairmanship, is committing to making nutrition programs among his top priorities in the 117th Congress.