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Inflation continues hot for food
Inflation continues hot for food

Inflation is heating up for Americans, and fresh produce purchases are no exception.

Canada’s Top 100 Employers recognizes Oppy for second time
Canada’s Top 100 Employers recognizes Oppy for second time

 Honored for the first time in 2020, the leading grower, The Oppenheimer Group (Oppy) was selected as one of Canada’s Top Employers for the second year in a row. 

IFG licensee creates new Sweet Globe grape ice cream
IFG licensee creates new Sweet Globe grape ice cream

International Fruit Genetics LLC boasts a total of 47 patented table grape varieties, with the IFG™ Sweet Globe™ grape being the most grown grape variety globally.

PMA advances efforts in PLU innovations  
PMA advances efforts in PLU innovations  

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has announced a breadth of efforts to advance innovation and industry involvement with regulators on PLU stickers.  

USDA restricts PACA violators in Missouri and Pennsylvania from operating in the produce industry
USDA restricts PACA violators in Missouri and Pennsylvania 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 the PACA.

USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Fuentes Farms LLC
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Fuentes Farms LLC

The ISDA announced that Fuentes Farms LLC satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $13,200 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Texas Best Produce
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Texas Best Produce

The USDA announced that David Lopez, doing business as Texas Best Produce, satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $47,880 issued under the PACA involving unpaid produce transactions.

J.R. Simplot Company and Plant Sciences Inc. create a strategic alliance on gene editing of strawberries
J.R. Simplot Company and Plant Sciences Inc. create a strategic alliance on gene editing of strawberries

The J.R. Simplot Company has announced it has entered a strategic alliance with Plant Sciences Inc., a Watsonville, CA-based plant breeding company, to drive new breeding techniques for strawberries.

Sollum Technologies completes its largest-ever smart LED lighting installation
Sollum Technologies completes its largest-ever smart LED lighting installation

In time for winter production, Sollum Technologies has completed the expansion of its smart LED lighting solution at Allegro Acres, a greenhouse pepper farm in Kingsville, Ontario.

United Fresh and Canadian Produce Marketing Association Release USA/Canada Labeling Guide
United Fresh and Canadian Produce Marketing Association Release USA/Canada Labeling Guide

United Fresh Produce Association and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) are pleased to announce the release of the Second Edition of the USA/Canada Labeling Guide.

RPE, Tasteful Selections come together as Tasteful Partners
RPE, Tasteful Selections come together as Tasteful Partners

Tasteful Selections and RPE, its exclusive sales and marketing partner since Tasteful Selections planted its first potato in 2010, announced on Nov. 10 the formation of a new entity, Tasteful Partners.

This is what retailers prioritize, says National Grocers Association Fall 2021 report
This is what retailers prioritize, says National Grocers Association Fall 2021 report

Change has been the only constant since the spring of 2020, and we take a look at how retailers have adjusted and plan to adjust going into 2022.

CKF invests in new production facility in British Columbia 
CKF invests in new production facility in British Columbia 

Hantsport, Nova Scotia-based CKF Inc. has announced investments to substantially increase its thermoformed molded fiber production capacity.

Florida fall eggplant, tomatoes season
Florida fall eggplant, tomatoes season

As shown so far this fall, it’s often a great time of year to be a Florida fruit or vegetable grower. Can the same be said for Florida fall eggplant, tomatoes season?

Florida fall sweet corn season
Florida fall sweet corn season

Sweet corn from Florida is typically available from November through July.

U.S. Apple report: Fresh apples in storage down 14% from five-year average
U.S. Apple report: Fresh apples in storage down 14% from five-year average

The first apple storage report of the season shows U.S. fresh apple inventories were 7.1% below year-ago levels as of Nov. 1.

Florida fall strawberry season
Florida fall strawberry season

Strawberries aren’t ready yet this fall so far, but on Nov. 26, 2020, strawberry shipments from Florida had 4,923 packages of eight 1-pound containers with lids — or almost 40,000 pounds, according to the AMS.

So far, so good for the Florida fall produce season
So far, so good for the Florida fall produce season

When it comes to fall and early winter produce in Florida, it depends on the hurricane season. And yes, growers and marketers also watch for any frosts that pop up in what’s supposed to be the Sunshine State.

Eco-friendly packaging key to help define sustainability, consumers say
Eco-friendly packaging key to help define sustainability, consumers say

More than half of consumers polled about sustainability by The Packer earlier this year said that eco-friendly packaging helps them define whether a product is sustainable.

Green Thumb Farms looks for strong crop, highlights variety identity in marketing efforts
Green Thumb Farms looks for strong crop, highlights variety identity in marketing efforts

The Maine crop was harvested and under cover with great quality, said Mike Hart, director of sales and marketing for Fryeburg, Maine-based Green Thumb Farms Inc.

Packer 25 2021 - Brian Reeves
Packer 25 2021 - Brian Reeves

Farming is kind of a whole lifestyle. You’ve heard this before from farmers: it’s your work, it’s your lifestyle, it’s your life. It’s what I’ve done most of my life... that’s as much passion as there is.

2021 Washington Apple Education Foundation volunteers of the year
2021 Washington Apple Education Foundation volunteers of the year

The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced its 2021 Volunteers of the Year.

Live Oak Farms Adds Organic Saleswoman Bonny Iten to the Mix!
Live Oak Farms Adds Organic Saleswoman Bonny Iten to the Mix!

Live Oak Farms, Calif. Based, has added Bonny (Choate) Iten to their sales staff.

Side Delights offers shoppers potato recipes and reasons to be thankful
Side Delights offers shoppers potato recipes and reasons to be thankful

Side Delights offers shoppers Thanksgiving recipes and reasons or reminders to give thanks this year.

USDA begins accepting applications for new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program
USDA begins accepting applications for new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it is accepting applications for the new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program first announced on Sept. 7, 2021.

Grapes increase diversity of gut bacteria and reduce cholesterols
Grapes increase diversity of gut bacteria and reduce cholesterols

A new clinical study published in the scientific journal Nutrients found that consuming grapes significantly increased the diversity of bacteria in the gut which is considered essential to good health overall.

Mirabella Farms and Hazel collaborate to extend the shelf-life of table grapes distributed across Latin America
Mirabella Farms and Hazel collaborate to extend the shelf-life of table grapes distributed across Latin America

Chicago-based Hazel Technologies, Inc. has announced a partnership with Fresno, CA-based Mirabella Farms, Inc., a family-owned table grape grower/packer/shipper with over 60 years of industry experience.

Fresh Del Monte’s BUNCH OF GOOD Campaign concludes with $10,000 donation to Feeding America
Fresh Del Monte’s BUNCH OF GOOD Campaign concludes with $10,000 donation to Feeding America

Oregon native Nicole Harrison, winner of Fresh Del Monte’s BUNCH OF GOOD™ sweepstakes, presents a check for $10,000 on behalf of Fresh Del Monte’s ‘Bunch of Good Society’ to Nate Crone of Feeding America.

Earl’s Organic Produce announces Robert Lichtenberg’s retirement
Earl’s Organic Produce announces Robert Lichtenberg’s retirement

Robert Lichtenberg, Director of Purchasing for Earl’s Organic Produce on The SF Market is retiring after a career spanning almost 50 years.

Investment group reports increasing progress with regenerative goals
Investment group reports increasing progress with regenerative goals

Agriculture Capital (AC) has released its fifth annual Impact Report, measuring the positive impact of its regenerative management practices on the environment and the community.

Megan McKenna receives Foodservice Editorial Council’s Top Award
Megan McKenna receives Foodservice Editorial Council’s Top Award

Megan McKenna, Senior Director of Marketing & Foodservice, National Watermelon Promotion Board, as the recipient of the 2021 Betty Bastion Outstanding Service Award.

They call it a platform for good reason
They call it a platform for good reason

It’s not for nothing that we refer to different social media — LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter in this case — as platforms.

Good quality, ample supply of winter vegetables 
Good quality, ample supply of winter vegetables 

There should be plenty of California winter vegetables available this season, with generally strong markets for grower-shippers and reasonable prices for retailers and consumers.

Sappi Rockwell Solutions offers sustainable lidding film for the soft fruit industry
Sappi Rockwell Solutions offers sustainable lidding film for the soft fruit industry

Heat seal coating specialist Sappi Rockwell Solutions has launched a recyclable, lightweight, heat seal, lidding film designed specifically for the fresh produce market. 

Health insurance, SNAP benefits can pay for produce online via FarmboxRx
Health insurance, SNAP benefits can pay for produce online via FarmboxRx

More and more consumers can use their health insurance to buy fresh produce online and have it delivered to their homes, and now those who qualify can supplement that by using their SNAP/EBT cards online.

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CFIA: Certain Broadwood Farm brand microgreens recalled due to Salmonella

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reported that the industry is recalling certain Broadwood Farm brand microgreens from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

October U.S. online grocery sales show stabilization
October U.S. online grocery sales show stabilization

Produce executives can have a better sense of what online grocery shopping will be like in 2022 after an October survey shows some stabilization at higher levels than in pre-pandemic times.

POM Wonderful touts fresh arils with new branding and digital marketing campaign
POM Wonderful touts fresh arils with new branding and digital marketing campaign

Los Angeles-based POM Wonderful is kicking off the 2021 California pomegranate season with its largest digital marketing campaign ever to raise brand awareness and continue to drive category growth. 

Chilean blueberry exporters expect a similar crop to a year ago
Chilean blueberry exporters expect a similar crop to a year ago

The Chilean Blueberry Committee projects global export volumes of 117,000 metric tons in 2021-22,  similar to the total exported the previous season.

Stemilt bringing greater volume of key organic fruit varieties
Stemilt bringing greater volume of key organic fruit varieties

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is bringing increased volume of organic Honeycrisp and SweeTango to the market in the 2021-22 season.

Mexican avocado foodservice sales on the rise again
Mexican avocado foodservice sales on the rise again

Foodservice sales that plummeted during the pandemic are edging upward once again, but avocado importers say labor shortages are preventing the business from reaching pre-COVID-19 levels.

Peruvian asparagus importers face transportation issues
Peruvian asparagus importers face transportation issues

Moving fresh asparagus from Peru to the U.S. is increasingly costly and challenging, and shipping the vegetable from importers’ warehouses to customers’ distribution centers in the U.S. isn’t a piece of cake.

LGMA issues 2020-21 annual report
LGMA issues 2020-21 annual report

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement is has published its annual report.

Packer 25 2021 — Rafael Morera
Packer 25 2021 — Rafael Morera

My passion for produce began during the time I worked for Publix supermarkets starting in 1989. My produce journey took me all the way to the produce manager role in 1993, where I broke district sales records.

ProducePay offers Daily Market Report tool
ProducePay offers Daily Market Report tool

With more than 307 commodities available to track, Los Angeles-based ProducePay is finding many of its users are taking advantage of the company’s Daily Market Report (DMR).

John D’Arrigo honored with the Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Arizona
John D’Arrigo honored with the Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Arizona

John D’Arrigo, President, CEO and Chairman for D’Arrigo California has been honored by the University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as an influential visionary and agricultural leader.

Misfits Market expands online grocery delivery to California
Misfits Market expands online grocery delivery to California

Misfits Market — a direct-to-consumer online grocery platform focusing on sustainability, affordability and accessibility — has launched in California, delivering to every zip code in the state.

USDA reopening comment period for proposed termination of the South Texas onion marketing order
USDA reopening comment period for proposed termination of the South Texas onion marketing order

The South Texas Onion Marketing Order isn’t dead yet.

Florida anticipates high-quality crop thanks to favorable growing conditions
Florida anticipates high-quality crop thanks to favorable growing conditions

Despite forecasts for a smaller production of all oranges and grapefruits this year, Florida citrus growers said favorable growing conditions are resulting in a strong, high-quality Florida citrus crop.

FDA highlights consumer data on food safety perceptions of fresh produce and organic produce
FDA highlights consumer data on food safety perceptions of fresh produce and organic produce

The saying that the “consumer is always right” seems unlikely when it comes to food safety perceptions.