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The National Organic Program wants feedback on proposed changes to the way the program collects information. These changes will help avoid collecting redundant information and streamline information collection.

Take a look at the fresh produce industry stories and topics that topped The Packer's coverage during the year.

Will they or won’t they? Opposition remains as the planned transaction between the two retail grocery giants appears to be moving ahead.

New research looks to seek best ways to use wastewater to create biochar that retains nutrients and eliminates micropollutants.

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 data shows younger shoppers, higher-income households, those with more kids at home were among those reporting the highest organic artichoke purchase rates.

The Ontario, Calif.-based Hispanic food retailer says it’s brightening the holidays for residents in the communities where Heritage banner grocery stores operate.

Chris Gerlach, USApple’s director of industry analytics, shared how this season draws parallels from a large crop in 2014-15.

More than ever, fresh produce growers needed guest workers to harvest their crops in 2023. At the same time, the escalating wage costs of the H-2A program — up nearly 20% since 2020 — have many desperate for relief.

The growers of Envy apples recently collaborated with Hallmark Channel actor and entrepreneur Andrew Walker for a holiday apple sampling experience at Longo’s in Toronto. 

The versatile potato is one fresh produce commodity that consumers turn to when they are faced with grocery price inflation, The Packer's Fresh Trends 2024 survey reveals.

A new medley variety pack from Southwind Farms is now available, says Derek Peterson, vice president of sales and operations for Wilcox Fresh, Rexburg, Idaho.

The organization shares how newly launched programs help bring it closer to its mission and how connecting growers and suppliers helps move the industry forward.

In 2023, the produce industry faced several challenges, including a significant recall of fresh-cut and whole cantaloupes toward the end of the year. Yet, the industry remains optimistic of the strides made this year.

You’re more vulnerable than you think, says Eric Regnier, vice president of operations at ZAG Technical Services, who shares ways produce businesses can prepare for threats on the latest "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast.

Instacart and Fairway Market have announced the launch of "Fairway Now," a new fast home delivery service powered by Instacart.

Make room in the shopping cart for the mighty potato.

U.S. fresh potato exports soared 16% in the 12 months from October 2022 through September 2023, USDA trade numbers say.

The USDA has proposed the termination of the federal cranberry marketing order.

The Florida company is best known for sourcing tropical and exotic fruits and vegetables such as plantains, yellow yams, yuca, avocados and dragon fruit.

The merger expands the opportunity and scope of both companies to serve their unique customer base, while also working together with the customers the two companies share coast to coast.

The recall list of vendors impacted by the salmonella outbreak in cantaloupes now includes Stop & Shop products sold in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

This holiday season, Healthy Family Project and Lowes Foods partnered with 21 health-conscious brands for the first-ever Season of Sharing, providing 525,000 meals to local Feeding America food banks.

The Department of Pesticide Regulation said the move is in response to outreach, public meetings and pilot projects.

A newly updated report shows that foreign investors held an interest in over 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural (farmland and forest) land at the end of 2022.

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association has inducted Gary Wishnatzki into its hall of fame for his innovations in the berry industry.

As importers argue for its preservation, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott has reiterated his request for the immediate termination of the 2019 tomato suspension agreement.

NoKota Packers is locked and loaded for the 2023-24 season, says Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of the Buxton, N.D.-based marketer.

The use of food-date labels such as “use-by” and “best if used by” causes consumer confusion that results in many shoppers discarding food that is safe to eat or donate, according to a Consumer Food Insights Report.

These 10 steps can help keep your employees from walking away.

In a move to support pollinators and the critical role they play in the food system and the environment, the Austin, Texas-based grocer has introduced a new pollinator policy.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, are looking for new ways to combat huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening, through disease resistance.

The USDA is reminding specialty crop growers that assistance is available for producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses.

As inflationary pressures wage on this holiday season, the Cincinnati-based grocer continues to promote affordable and convenient meal planning ideas.

The company has promoted eight employees to key roles as it plans for growth.

The International Fresh Produce Association aims to help drive everyday floral sales by focusing on tools and resources for non-holiday sales at The Floral Conference – Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 27, 2024. 

Retail organic produce sales still have momentum, but inflation and an uneven economy have slowed growth.

Nearly 3 out of 4 of those voting in a recent industry poll predicted the use of reusable plastic containers will rise in the next five years.

Asoguabo, a banana grower in Ecuador, is the first to meet GlobalGAP’s Produce Handling Assurance standard with plans for more packing operations by the grower to achieve certification in 2024. 

Great potato promotion opportunities for Idaho potatoes will abound in 2024, says Eric Beck, director of marketing for Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Wada Farms Marketing Group.

A California-based citrus brand is gearing up for a zestful celebration Dec. 20-23 at Tops Friendly Markets as part of its nationwide "Peelz on Wheelz" Citrus Road Tour.

The companies said this proof-of-concept project will enable Sysco and suppliers to capture, store and share traceability data as part of FSMA’s Food Traceability Rule.

The company said a random sampling of its bagged spinach yielded a positive result for Listera monocytogenes.

The USDA earmarked half of its emergency fund to respond to exotic fruit fly outbreaks in California, which threaten the fresh produce industry in the state.

The recent NYPS spotlighted CEA success stories during an educational panel discussion organized by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance and moderated by Tom Stenzel, the CEA Alliance’s executive director.

The Fertilizer Research Act has been introduced by three senators to require USDA to study competition and trends in the fertilizer market.

The Food and Drug Administration said this recall involves conventionally grown peaches, plums and nectarines sold nationwide and distributed by HMC Farms.

This new resource from the International Fresh Produce Association offers guidance and certifications on how to develop and implement diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Potato movement has been good throughout the Red River Valley at the start of this season.

Prioritizing culture is often overlooked when it comes to employee management and retention.

Failure to meet contract obligations and failure to pay reparations caused the department to sanction the businesses and principal operators and prevent them from working in the produce industry.