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Highland Ag Solutions adds sustainability to its platform
Highland Ag Solutions adds sustainability to its platform

Mulberry, Fla.-based software solutions provider Highland Ag Solutions is integrating the Sustainability Standard from the Sustainable Food Group into its Highland Hub software platform.

California avocados continue with customized promotions through Labor Day
California avocados continue with customized promotions through Labor Day

Customized California avocado retail programs will continue through Labor Day, says Terry Splane, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission.

Why hauling produce can be so challenging
Why hauling produce can be so challenging

Delivering a load of fresh fruits or vegetables on time and in good condition is no easy task.

Washington weather sets the stage for a strong CMI Orchards apple season
Washington weather sets the stage for a strong CMI Orchards apple season

The growing season has been excellent for Washington apples, says Robb Myers, and that is just the start of the good news.

Chile celebrates 20 years of free trade with the U.S.
Chile celebrates 20 years of free trade with the U.S.

Chile is celebrating 20 years of free trade with the U.S.

 Wholesum unveils revamped website
 Wholesum unveils revamped website

Amado, Ariz.-based Wholesum has launched its revamped website, wh.farm.

Despite rising food costs, consumers continue to reach for the versatile mushroom
Despite rising food costs, consumers continue to reach for the versatile mushroom

There’s something inherently “extra” about mushrooms. Sure, they slay as a flavorful and more affordable substitute for meat, but they also offer health benefits galore, play well in a variety of diets and cook quickly.

Company voluntarily recalls Zespri kiwis for listeria risk
Company voluntarily recalls Zespri kiwis for listeria risk

David Oppenheimer and Co. is recalling 1-pound clamshells of Zespri brand organic green kiwifruit shipped from June 14, 2023, to July 7, 2023, due to potential listeria contamination.

Fyffes publishes second human rights report
Fyffes publishes second human rights report

The Ireland-based company has recently concluded its third year of human rights due diligence and provided an update to its salient human rights risks in its second Human Rights Report.

By the numbers: Carrots
By the numbers: Carrots

Learn some fun facts about this highly regarded root.

Washington apple crop up big for 2023, grower group says
Washington apple crop up big for 2023, grower group says

Save room in the shopping cart for more Washington apples.

The Giant Co. donates $1M to children’s hospital to expand food pharmacy program
The Giant Co. donates $1M to children’s hospital to expand food pharmacy program

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has received a $1 million gift from the grocer to expand its Food Pharmacy program, which provides fresh produce and other nutritious food for families experiencing food insecurity.

Farming as a dance: How Revol Greens' VP of operations grows greens in Texas
Farming as a dance: How Revol Greens' VP of operations grows greens in Texas

John Carkoski shares with The Packer what he’s learned so far leading operations at Revol Greens' newest CEA facility in Temple, Texas, and how the grower is expanding its footprint with its largest farm to date.

USDA report cites rising farm labor costs but also rising productivity
USDA report cites rising farm labor costs but also rising productivity

Although farm wages have been rising, a new USDA report says those rising costs have been offset by rising productivity and/or output prices.

Athlete, activist, entrepreneur Allyson Felix to headline IFPA global show women's breakfast
Athlete, activist, entrepreneur Allyson Felix to headline IFPA global show women's breakfast

The most decorated American track and field Olympian, entrepreneur and founder of Saysh is slated to speak at the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast at The Global Produce & Floral Show.

Survey: Cost of living crisis crimps sustainable food shopping
Survey: Cost of living crisis crimps sustainable food shopping

A new consumer survey from United Kingdom agtech startup Varda reveals just 29% of consumers said they are willing to pay more for sustainable items.

Oregon and Washington pear producers vote to continue federal marketing order
Oregon and Washington pear producers vote to continue federal marketing order

The vote allows the Oregon and Washington pear industry and the Fresh and Processed Pear Committee to conduct production and marketing research and promotional initiatives including paid advertising with USDA oversight.

BeeHero’s precision pollination platform provides growers real-time data
BeeHero’s precision pollination platform provides growers real-time data

California-based agtech company BeeHero is launching a pollination insights platform that it says will give growers real-time pollination data and expand the largest dataset of bee activity, globally.

Meet Revol Greens new chief financial officer
Meet Revol Greens new chief financial officer

The indoor lettuce grower says James Bradley’s expertise and CFO track record will help lead growth and expansion in the months and years ahead.

Avocados From Mexico helps retailers customize promotions for smaller fruit in late summer
Avocados From Mexico helps retailers customize promotions for smaller fruit in late summer

Stephanie Bazan, senior vice president of commercial strategy and execution for Avocados From Mexico, said in late July that Mexican volume was leaning heavily toward small fruit.

PMG’s produce merchandising contest winners for spring '23
PMG’s produce merchandising contest winners for spring '23

VIDEO: See who won the 2023 spring contest of the Produce Artist Award Series, complete with a new judge on the panel and a live drawing to see which participant wins a $50 Amazon gift card.

Giant Food's merchandiser-dietitian: Emily Massi
Giant Food's merchandiser-dietitian: Emily Massi

On this episode of "Tip of the Iceberg Podcast," learn why Emily Massi's healthy living merchandising manager role was created, how she’s bridging the two worlds and how it benefits consumers and produce retailers.

Alsum Farms celebrates 50 years with public-facing celebration
Alsum Farms celebrates 50 years with public-facing celebration

2023 is a golden year for Alsum Farms & Produce.

Texas 1015 sweet onions wrap up harvest and promotion season
Texas 1015 sweet onions wrap up harvest and promotion season

South Texas growers have planted 40% more Texas 1015 sweet onions in 2023 to keep up with increasing demand, says a Texas onion association.

Fresh Trends 2023: 1 in 4 consumers report buying raspberries last year
Fresh Trends 2023: 1 in 4 consumers report buying raspberries last year

The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey found that 24% of consumers reported raspberry purchases in the past year.

Plunging freight rates could head upward
Plunging freight rates could head upward

Shippers have been enjoying a substantial drop in transportation costs this year after enduring some of the highest freight rates ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those rock-bottom prices could be short-lived, though.

Despite challenges, almond crop anticipated to weigh in above 2022
Despite challenges, almond crop anticipated to weigh in above 2022

Almond crop production has kicked off this August with improved expectations that a heftier almond will offset the lowest almonds-per-acre-yield since 2009, according to a recent USDA report.

Burger and fries get a salad spin in new kit from Gold Coast Packing
Burger and fries get a salad spin in new kit from Gold Coast Packing

Seeking to capture the flavors of a burger and fries in a healthier salad version, the Santa Maria, Calif.-based company has added a Better Than a Burger Salad Kit to its retail lineup.

Hazel Technologies works with Northeast apple grower to improve postharvest
Hazel Technologies works with Northeast apple grower to improve postharvest

Multigenerational Maine-based Ricker Hill Orchards is adding Hazel 100 shelf-life extension packets to its apples postharvest to reduce complexity and improve operations.

Another big Michigan apple crop on tap
Another big Michigan apple crop on tap

Michigan’s 2023 apple crop may not be as big as last year’s record, but it should be close.

Meet the new faces of New England Produce Council
Meet the new faces of New England Produce Council

Expect to see some new faces on New England Produce Council’s two boards: the executive board and board of directors.

Photos: The produce department of The Giant Co.'s Breanna Norris
Photos: The produce department of The Giant Co.'s Breanna Norris

See what the produce department of an award-winning produce manager looks like.

Dole’s Bobby Banana visits Boys & Girls Club, kicks off national back-to-school celebration
Dole’s Bobby Banana visits Boys & Girls Club, kicks off national back-to-school celebration

With the goal of helping kids make healthy after-school snacks this fall, Bobby Banana, the 7-foot mascot of Dole Food Co., visited the Oak Forest campus of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte on Aug. 4.

Potato retail sales up double digits year-over-year, report says
Potato retail sales up double digits year-over-year, report says

U.S. retail sales of potatoes have grown 16.8% from July 2022 through June 2023, according to a recent Circana report.

Heads up — it’s hatch chili season
Heads up — it’s hatch chili season

If you want to get your hands on the cult-favorite smoky-spice chili grown in Hatch, N.M., don’t wait — the time is now.

Mom’s Organic Market launches Climate-Friendly Foods program
Mom’s Organic Market launches Climate-Friendly Foods program

"With signage throughout the store, we can provide helpful information to customers that want low-carbon footprint items within different food groups,” Mom’s founder and CEO Scott Nash said.

Onion industry leaders, researchers to host National Onion Association Convention
Onion industry leaders, researchers to host National Onion Association Convention

The National Onion Association Convention will bring together industry advocates and allium researchers on the riverwalk in San Antonio on Nov. 29 to Dec. 2.

Mission Produce appoints SpartanNash exec to board of directors
Mission Produce appoints SpartanNash exec to board of directors

The Oxnard, Calif.-based company has appointed SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Bashir Sarsam to its board of directors, effective Aug. 14.

What’s next in food trends? New consumer curiosity study
What’s next in food trends? New consumer curiosity study

Curious Plot food marketing agency’s first "Consumer Curiosity Report" emphasizes that home-cooked food has to be easy — really easy.

Mushroom Council and Culinary Institute of America launch plant-forward video series
Mushroom Council and Culinary Institute of America launch plant-forward video series

The Mushroom Council and The Culinary Institute of America are taking chefs on a globally inspired culinary tour — featuring mushrooms as the star ingredient — in their recently launched educational video series.

Natural Delights and Tajín collaborate on new date strips with chili lime
Natural Delights and Tajín collaborate on new date strips with chili lime

The medjool date brand is banking on shopper demand for sweet and spicy snacks to drive sales in new date snack offering.

Chefs battle for 'Top Guac' honor
Chefs battle for 'Top Guac' honor

The Top Guac challenge was met.

Sprouts Farmers Market reports a 6% gain in net sales for Q2
Sprouts Farmers Market reports a 6% gain in net sales for Q2

The chain also noted a 3.2% gain in comparable store sales versus the same quarter a year ago.

GrubMarket acquires London Fruit to further expand in Texas
GrubMarket acquires London Fruit to further expand in Texas

London Fruit operates a facility in south Texas that spans almost 50,000 square feet, including refrigerated cold storage and a USDA organic-certified repacking space.

I Love Produce ventures into the Peruvian rainforest to survey ginger crop
I Love Produce ventures into the Peruvian rainforest to survey ginger crop

The organic importer says it’s delivering a steady supply of ginger from Peru into a tight market this year.

USDA releases new version of market news app
USDA releases new version of market news app

The USDA has released Version 3.0 of its free USDA Market News mobile app.

Department of Labor says investigation recovers $45K in back wages from fruit company
Department of Labor says investigation recovers $45K in back wages from fruit company

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has found the Timberville, Va.-based Mt. Clifton Fruit Company LLC violated multiple requirements of the H-2A agricultural worker program.

Investors to CEA: The time for profitability is now
Investors to CEA: The time for profitability is now

As the CEA industry matures, investors are increasingly eager to see results in the form of productivity and profitability.

Organic fresh produce sales see slight gains in Q2
Organic fresh produce sales see slight gains in Q2

The Organic Produce Performance report has tracked a 1.5% growth in sales and about 1% growth in volume in organic fresh produce for the second quarter of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022.

Renowned academic to be keynote speaker at Western Growers annual meeting
Renowned academic to be keynote speaker at Western Growers annual meeting

Western Growers has announced that Dr. Temple Grandin will be the kickoff keynote speaker at the group’s 97th Annual Meeting in Hawaii.