Latest News From Industry

More than 60 specialty crop organizations sent a letter to Congressional leaders highlighting efforts by growers and other agricultural employers to protect their labor force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All Express Freight LLC, City Market, Onion River Co-op. and Tennessee Tomato Company LLC are new companies to the Market. Bayers Melon Farm, Bell Blueberries, Naturpac Inc., and others have changes.

U.S. fresh produce imports are exceeding expectations.

Eddy Queirolo started his produce career in 1986, and he's been a produce manager for 34 years now.

Staying connected to members is always a goal for industry associations, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it very difficult to do so with typical events.

Blue River Legacy Farms LLC, Select Berries LLC, Tropical Sales of Florida LLC, and Western Sky Produce LLC are new companies to the Market. Clements' Marketplace, Okimoto Corp., Sanchez Market and others have updates.

The SEPC is transforming its Southern Innovations conference in September with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind, practicing safety measures and focusing presentations on the change caused by the virus.

Freddie Dowell, the produce manager of the year for Brookshire Grocery Co., also received recognition this year from the United Fresh Produce Association as part of its Retail Produce Manager Awards program.

What is the future of the U.S. trading relationship with China? 

Martín Casanova and Raul Fernandez created the Thx! brand with an eye toward differentiating their produce offerings, particularly berries and cherries. 

USDA sanctions Maya Fruit Co. EC International Produce, Gotham Greens Aurora LLC, LTL Fresh Inc., and Meel Corp. are new companies to the Market. Genere Food Corp., Greenhill Produce and others have updates.

Each week The Packer releases its digital version of the print newspaper. Check out this week's issue.

New York Produce Inc. has satisfied a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act order and can operate in the fresh produce industry again.

United Fresh LIVE! is coming in mid-June, and The Packer’s Tom Karst visited May 1 with John Toner with the United Fresh Produce Association about the trend-setting virtual event.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed a complaint for Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act violations totaling over a million dollars against Old West Export Inc.

The U.S. Department has imposed sanctions on two Florida companies for not paying customers for fresh produce under the Perishable Agricultural Commodity Act.

They say a photo's worth a thousand words. We still believe strongly in words, but we're also big fans of photos, particularly when it comes to merchandising inspiration.

Hopes were running high among fresh produce foodservice distributors, food banks and other nonprofit groups that may benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families food box program. 

The USDA has filed action against Jones Potato Chip Co. H.R. Spinner and Sage Fruit Co LLC have been Endorsed. Mon Valley Foods Inc., New Start Produce and Twain Harte Market are new companies to the Market, plus more.

If the past two months seem more like two years, you are not alone. As COVID-19 fatigue continues, we all long for a return to a sense of normalcy.

Democratic lawmakers, Farmworker Justice and the Environmental Working Group are pushing for new federal protections for farm and food workers in the next coronavirus stimulus legislation.

USDA has announced actions on Hunter Brothers Inc. and Old West Export Inc. Morton Williams and Phenix MV Inc. are new companies to the Market. Country Creek Produce Farm LLC, Lucas Farms and others have updates.

Labor shortages are easing in Canada as the flow of guest agriculture workers is increasing, according to Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.

USDA has issued actions against Evergreen Fresh Farms Inc., New York Produce Inc., and P.K. Produce, Inc. CTI Logistics LLC, GOLDEN BASIL FARM LLC, and Joe Heger Farms LLC are new companies to the Market, plus more.

The United Fresh Produce Association has released a schedule of events for the 2020 United Fresh LIVE! show.

Thirty-eight agriculture groups want Congress to adjust the Paycheck Protection Program to make it easier to access for growers.

USDA Sanctions Hunter Brothers Inc., Montecito Fresh Produce, and Y Farms LLC. Dixie Fine Foods LLC, Fastco Food Service LLC, Food Hub LLC, and Global Harvest Co. are new companies to the Market, plus company updates.

Brian Dey's first series of columns for PMG focused on making the wet rack the masterpiece it is meant to be. As a refresher, here are a pair of checklists for the best practices he outlined.

Which specialty fruits have received increasing interest in recent years? Check out this Nielsen data* that shows the unit growth since 2015 of jackfruit, dragon fruit, papayas, permissions, passion fruit and guava.

A growing number of restaurants are incorporating guava into their menus, according to a recent Fresh Insights on Foodservice report from the United Fresh Produce Association.

With the reputation of citrus for strengthening the body's immune system, you know that shoppers are going to be doing a double-take on grapefruit. Take advantage by adding some of these grapefruit fun facts.

The Super Bowl isn’t the only occasion for which shoppers seek extra avocados. Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day all saw dollar sales grow from 2018 to 2019, according to the Hass Avocado Board.

The Eastern Produce Council is offering a food safety webinar as part of the Leadership Program for the 2020 class, and the council’s entire membership is welcome to join as well.

Super HK HG LLC, doing business as Hong Kong Supermarket, Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., has satisfied a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act reparations order from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has sanctioned five companies for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stripped Cruisin’ On Inc. of its Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act license for not paying for $1.13 million in fresh produce it received.

Each week The Packer releases its digital version of the print newspaper. Check out this week's issue.

USDA have issued actions on Hong Kong Supermarket & The Produce Network Inc. Homeworth General, ProduceIQ Inc., Rosie Produce, and Victoria Fruits LLC are new companies to the Market. Koda Farms & others have updates.

Taking a close look at distressed markets for produce, milk, and eggs during the COVID-19 pandemic, a live digital event by Farm Journal is set for April 30 at 3 p.m. Central.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited April 24 with Sabrina Bosiacki, agriculture industry manager for the Houston Food Bank, about the promise of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Buy Fresh Program.

As promised, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its solicitation for proposals for the Buy Fresh Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program.

Nearly $10 million has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 11 multi-state projects that seek to boost the competitiveness of specialty crops.

ERC Produce has been Endorsed. Exp Group LLC, Flaum Appetizing Corp., Nellai Marts Worthington Lewis Center, Ocean Sunbelt Produce Inc., and PNW Veg Co LLC are new companies to the Market. Plus, many company updates.

What makes a shopper buy more fresh produce? Sure, ads might get them into your store, but once the customer is there, how do you capture every possible sales opportunity?

The House of Representatives on April 23 passed a $484 billion stimulus package.

Abendroth's Apple Ridge Orchards, Amazing Dollar, Nellai Marts (Sawmill), Raw Generation Inc., and SJ Distribution LLC are new companies to the Market. Blueberry Ridge Farm, Sunrise Organic Farm and others have updates.

A lack of labor interest and potential legal and political factors limit the potential of turning to a “gig economy” to decreasing food waste from produce farms.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 22 which puts a 60-day pause on immigration into the U.S. 

No one can – or should – predict when independent supermarket retailing will return to normal or what “normal” will even look like.

Rouge River Farms has been Endorsed. Avoexport Co Inc., Food Connection US Corp., Kooljet Refrigeration Systems, New Era's American Asparagus Packing LLC, and Organic World LLC are new companies to the Market & more.